Residents of Vaibhav Khand Windsor Park in Ghaziabad recently held a protest against short-term rental units, according to reports from The Times of India and Ghaziabad News. The protest occurred near Gate No. 1, with residents holding posters and raising slogans targeting the society's Resident Welfare Association (RWA). Protesters submitted a joint complaint to multiple authorities including the District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, GDA, Nagar Nigam, and Tourism Department, seeking an independent investigation into the alleged activities. Sadhna Mishra stated, "This is a residential society, not a hotel," highlighting the fundamental conflict between short-term rental operations and residential living.
The protest focused on studio apartments in Towers A and B, which together contain 270 studio flats out of the society's total 770 flats, as reported by The Times of India and Ghaziabad News. Residents alleged that many units were used informally, with some occupants staying without police verification and required registration missing. Amit Gera, who participated in the protest, alleged that flats in the Kabana Tower studio apartments were being rented out on a daily basis and even for a few hours, directly affecting society security. Protesters claimed that dozens of flats were being occupied by people on daily or short-term rentals, with some occupants staying without proper documentation. Raina said residents should not be allowed to rent out rooms for a few hours within the society, while residents warned that the movement of unknown people had become a concern for families living in the society.
According to legal experts, India does not have any central law on short-term rentals, but owning a flat does not automatically give the right to run it as short-stay accommodation in a residential property. As per Mint, the legality depends on three separate sets of rules: the tourism framework of the state, planning law that fixes permitted land use, and housing society documents including bye-laws and general body resolutions. Jai Dhanani from SKV Law Offices explained that under Uttar Pradesh's Homestay and Bed and Breakfast Policy 2025, urban homestays must be residential units on owned land with the owner or family physically living there. The policy caps both categories at eight rooms and excludes hotels, motels, and guest houses, with caretakers required to live in the unit. Sahil Sethi from Saikrishna & Associates noted that while protests have no legal force, societies can formally invoke bylaws through resolutions and court injunctions.
Protesters reported various disturbances including late-night activities, alcohol consumption inside parked vehicles, verbal abuse, physical fights, and bottles being thrown from windows, according to The Times of India and Ghaziabad News. Sadhna Mishra stated, "This is a residential society, not a hotel," highlighting the fundamental conflict between short-term rental operations and residential living. Women residents reportedly faced lewd comments, and residents mentioned a serious FIR involving a woman found unconscious and injured in flat B-1001, with the circumstances and connection to rental activities still under investigation. Residents questioned the RWA's functioning and alleged connections between RWA members and rental operators. Some occupants of short-stay flats allegedly created ruckus late at night, with complaints including alleged alcohol consumption inside vehicles in the parking area and verbal abuse.
RWA president Reena Patnaik denied that any Airbnb-like activities were being carried out in the society, stating that the RWA had never supported such activities and that a board prohibiting Airbnb had been installed on the premises, as reported by Ghaziabad News. However, protesters questioned the RWA's functioning and alleged that commercial rental activities were being encouraged through alleged collusion between some individuals associated with the RWA and property operators. Some residents alleged that individuals associated with secretary Vineet Garg were purchasing or renting apartments and subsequently offering them for short-term rentals, though these allegations have not been independently confirmed. Patnaik said that if a complaint against any flat was received along with concrete evidence, and police action required the RWA's cooperation, the association would provide full support. Residents said that despite complaints, the RWA had not put in place a clear policy or taken effective action against the alleged activities.
Residents who participated in the protest included multiple residents from the society, with some warning that if the issue was not resolved soon, they would expand the protest, according to Ghaziabad News. Residents demanded implementation of the UP Homestay and B&B Policy 2025, which requires registration and police verification, and demanded firm action against unauthorized rentals. They also demanded that flats allegedly operating without required registration and police character certificates under the UP Homestay and B&B Policy 2025 be investigated and that such flats be closed or sealed if violations are found. The RWA has been asked to provide details of tenants, rent agreements, and police verification records. Residents have sent complaints to the District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, GDA vice-president and Tourism Department, seeking their intervention.
