🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Houston, TX

A Deep Dive into Your Area’s STR Updates — Helping You Navigate the Ever-Changing Rental Landscape.

Will Houston’s Proposed Short-Term Rental Rules Solve the Neighborhood Crisis?

For homeowners in Houston’s westside neighborhoods, short-term rentals have become more than just an inconvenience. They’ve become a source of constant frustration and fear, as parties, criminal activity, and unregulated behavior disrupt their once peaceful surroundings.

Kathy Yang and Robert Sherman, two residents who have had enough of the chaos, are now looking to a new proposed ordinance to help restore peace in their community.

Houston city leaders have introduced a new 11-page ordinance that would place strict regulations on short-term rental owners. Under the proposal, owners would be required to apply for a city-issued certificate of registration to legally operate their properties. This registration process would hold owners accountable for providing accurate information, ensuring proper insurance, and paying required taxes. Registrations could be denied or revoked if the property or owner is linked to criminal activity.

For frustrated neighbors like Yang, the new ordinance offers hope for much-needed relief.

"I’m a fighter. I’m going to fight until the end,"

Yang said, determined to keep pushing for change.

However, while the proposed regulations offer a step forward, many residents are unsure if they go far enough to resolve the ongoing issues.

Sherman, another homeowner struggling with the impact of short-term rentals, points to the videos and audio recordings that highlight the shocking behavior occurring in these properties. From sex acts on camera to firearms being discharged, Sherman wonders if the city’s efforts will truly address these dangerous incidents.

As the ordinance moves closer to approval, residents will be watching closely, hoping that this new legislation will put an end to their neighborhood’s nightmare and restore their sense of security.

But the lingering question remains: is this enough to stop the tide of disruptive short-term rentals from continuing to flood their community?