Residents of an apartment block where three units are used as Airbnb-style rentals say they are living a nightmare of all-day parties and public sex.
Residents of $500,0000 homes are fed up with what they describe as sex parties, violence and drug use.
Two weeks ago gunshots were heard from the Westhaven Estates building in west Houston and security cameras captured a man with a gun leaving.
A couple was also filmed having sex on a balcony on a Monday morning as parents took their children to the elementary school just 200 feet away.
Two weeks ago gunshots were heard from the Westhaven Estates building in west Houston and security cameras captured a man with a gun leaving (pictured).
Neighbors said the frequent parties began on Thursday nights and continued almost non-stop until Monday mornings.
They said last week was worse than ever when students came into the building for spring break.
More images showed a woman in a thong strutting down a cobblestone path and Airbnb guests screaming and shouting into the night.
People who live in townhomes near Houston’s Galleria shopping center said this is not what they signed up for when they moved to the exclusive neighborhood with their children.
They are increasingly alarmed by armed people who smoke marijuana, which is still illegal in Texas, and who block the entrance to their homes with their cars.
A couple is seen having sex on the balcony of a Houston Airbnb in a pixelated image provided by a horrified local resident.
A scantily clad woman was also filmed walking around the neighborhood in a thong. It is unclear if she was one of the two people caught having sex on the balcony.
Nancy Rutherford, who lives a street from the building, said dozens of calls to the police were to no avail.
‘It’s been a living nightmare. This usually starts on Thursday night; lasts all night and continues until about Monday morning,” he said. Khou.
“None of us feel safe anymore. It’s only a matter of time until someone gets killed. What is HPD doing? I don’t know, I’d like to know what HPD is doing.’
Kathy Yang, who lives in Westhaven Estates, regularly locks her car when guests crowd her driveway with their vehicles.
He wanted to move, but said he couldn’t rent his apartment with such noisy neighbors and couldn’t in good conscience sell it.
“So I’m stuck,” she said.
Kathy Yang, who lives in Westhaven Estates, said she wanted to move, but she couldn’t rent her apartment and couldn’t in good conscience sell it.
Yang regularly locks her car when guests crowd the driveway with their vehicles.
After 87 attempts to get police to help shut down the out-of-control short-term rental, it remains in operation.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire addressed the issue at a recent city council meeting after complaints from city residents.
‘No one should be exposed to the conditions we hear about today. “I’ve seen some photographs that obviously violate the law,” she said.
“It’s obviously a hotel.”
However, Whitmire’s office said Texas was a strong property rights state and a federal court last year struck down Austin’s short-term rental rules as unconstitutional.
“We are in the process of gathering opinions, data and facts from the public on how to move forward to address concerns about short-term rentals,” he said.
“The city of Houston plans to make an informed decision before deciding how to move forward.”
Airbnb has five king and queen beds, according to the online listing.
The walls of the rental are painted black. There are also high-end touches, such as designer bedding.
An online listing for the property, which includes a pool, notes that parties or events are not permitted.
According to the rental listing, the “luxury” house sleeps up to 10 people and can be booked for just $486 per night.
Photos of the property show black walls, large mirrors, and beds covered in Chanel bedding.
“Each room is equipped with silky-soft sheets, comfy blankets, and soft pillows that will make you feel like you’re sleeping on the clouds in the sky,” the listing said.
The listing specifically states that parties are not allowed.
Airbnb did not immediately respond to comments about the party palace.