A landlady in a Kent town heavily populated by Airbnbs and second homes has been praised for vowing to rent to local families only.

Tish Neaves was shocked by the overwhelming response when she advertised her three-bed flat in Whitstable on Facebook with the unusual condition.

Residents in the town have long complained about properties being snapped up by Londoners as second homes or bought to be converted into holiday lets.

The knock-on effect of the issue has been a fall in the number of affordable rental properties in the town, with just two houses currently available for below £1,300 a month.

So Mrs Neaves’ pledge that only local tenants will be considered for her two-floor apartment in Cromwell Road has been widely applauded.

The 60-year-old even shunned the advice of estate agents to convert the property into an Airbnb, and has offered it at £1,150 a month – £200 below the market rate.

“I have had properties in Whitstable for more than 20 years and I’ve seen how it has changed,” said the barrister, who owns one other flat in the town that she is letting to a local tenant.

“In some ways it is good, where it has brought life and vitality, but I’ve also seen local people find it hard to compete for local properties.

“I went to lunch with a friend and her whole family has lived in Whitstable for years and she told me her children found it hard as the properties they would have rented are all Airbnbs or second homes.

“It seemed to me, as I have properties in Whitstable, it was important local people had the chance.”

The only other three-bed flats in the town currently advertised for rent on Rightmove are up for £1,550 and £1,995.

Mrs Neaves, whose family own a sheep farm in Seasalter, says she chose to offer the home at a lower price as she knows people are struggling with the rising cost of living.

“The estate agent told me it could get £1,350,” she added.

“But £1,150 is a price that puts it in a range for most working people in Whitstable.

“I am conscious that this cost-of-living crisis has made a big difference to people, and if it’s a rent that I’m satisfied with and can help people, then I’m happy to do it.

“Two of the estate agents specifically told me I could do well as an Airbnb with it and I told them I did not want to pursue it.

“There is nothing wrong with Airbnbs but there seems to be an imbalance in areas such as Whitstable.”

Mrs Neaves, who also has 10 other rental properties in Kent, has now vowed to let them all to local families whenever they become vacant.

She says the reaction to her original social media post, and the huge number of enquiries she is preparing to sift through, is a sign of how bleak the situation is for those in today’s rental market.

“It shows the enormous need there is,” said the lawyer, who is confident there is no legal issue with her local-only policy.

“I told my husband that I wished we had more houses [to help those in need] but he said we would never have enough and you would always be making difficult choices.”

Mrs Neaves’ post in a Whitstable Facebook group was met with widespread praise.

Fef Griffin said: “What a very caring idea.”

Peggy Eagle commented: “Excellent that you are letting it locally and not for a holiday home.”

And James Barton wrote: “Good on you.”

The increasing number of homes set aside for holidaymakers in Whitstable has become such an issue in the town that those desperate to find a solution attended a meeting earlier this year to discuss ways to regulate the industry.

Last year, KentOnline reported how many who call the area home believe the influx of tourists is pushing locals out and eroding the sense of community they felt many years ago.

It came as Whitstable was rated the eighth most popular place in the UK to own a second home.