Residents in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood in Florida say they have had enough of the parties being hosted at short-term rentals, after police were called over the weekend to break up a large gathering. Neighbors say they are still livid about what they witnessed and that something has to give.
According to residents, close to 50 teens flooded the street on Saturday night. Fort Lauderdale police showed up to break up the loud party, which one resident, Tammy Washburn, said was still going on toward one o'clock in the morning.
It was not the first time the quiet neighborhood had dealt with unwanted guests. The president of the River Oak Civics Association said that unruly short-term rental guests are becoming a persistent problem in the area, with parties showing no respect for the rest of the neighborhood.
Fort Lauderdale police confirmed that it was actually the owner of the short-term rental, in the Edgewood area, who ended up calling police to clear out the large gathering. According to officers, the teens left without any problems once police arrived.
Residents, however, described a messy aftermath. Washburn said she witnessed teens urinating on a neighbor's lawn and tossing trash on the street on their way out, leaving others to pick up the pieces, and she fears it will not be the last time officers are called to the house next door.
At a recent association meeting, code enforcement officers reiterated that there is a complaint system in place that suspends short-term rentals after three infractions. Some residents argue that part of the responsibility should fall on the rental owners themselves, saying that as long as guests can pay, owners seem willing to let anyone in without checking who they are.
Police also offered guidance for residents dealing with these situations. They advised that anyone calling 911 about a short-term rental issue should specify that it involves a short-term rental, since those calls are handled differently, while more minor infractions can be reported to the code compliance office.