RESIDENTS are going head-to-head with the owner of a village mansion after raising problems about the house being rented out to large groups of partygoers.

The Old Vicarage, a Grade II listed building, stands at the centre of Castle Hedingham.

The nine-bedroom home is being rented out through websites, including Air BnB, but some residents have grown frustrated with the alleged noise and disruption emanating from the home.

At a parish council meeting earlier this summer, 13 residents attended to raise concerns.

It is understood noise complaints have also been made to Braintree Council.

Garry Southgate, chairman of Castle Hedingham Parish Council, said: “It’s an ongoing situation being dealt with by Braintree Council as an enforcement issue, and, as far as I am aware, an investigation is underway.

“We are fully sympathetic to the views of the residents but we are doing our best to come to an amicable agreement between all parties.”

Advertised on Air BnB as sleeping up to 23, the home is described as “located in the ravishingly pretty Castle Hedingham with views of both the church and the castle”.

It continues: “Our house is stunning and beautiful, spacious and luxurious.”

The tenant Sam Marsden said: “It is still a family home, even though we have these short-term lets.

“It was empty for two years, and there was no maintenance done, it is necessary we have these shortterm lets to maintain the upkeep of this fantastic home. This is no different to anyone else using shortterm lets, it is a new phenomenon for many people, but it is very widespread.

The benefit to the community is the maintenance. I do think, from the community perspective, it is a net benefit. This is bringing people, and money, from outside the village.

“I understand why people are upset on some occasions, and I am responsible for that, but I have made a number of changes to appease residents. I do not think all the complaints are representative of what is a fantastic community, these complaints are from a small minority.”

Several steps have been taken to mitigate the problems. These include rules on music being changed, noise insulation being installed in the basement, wedding bookings are no longer being taken and the group size has been reduced to 20.

A spokesman for Braintree Council said: “We are investigating a change of use from residential to commercial to the Old Vicarage house due to the premises being used for holiday lettings.

“We have invited the homeowner to submit an application to regularise the use, however if this is not received our investigation remains open.”