Survey: Most Nebraska Voters Concerned about Negative Short-Term Rental Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Franklin Coley; [email protected]

Survey: Most NE Voters Concerned about Negative Short-Term Rental Impact

Nebraska legislature considering bill that would weaken rental oversight 

Lincoln, NE (April 5, 2023) – Large majorities of Nebraska residents are concerned about the negative impact of short-term rentals in their communities, according to a new survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Alliance for Stronger Communities.

The survey results come as Nebraska state legislators are considering LB 208, a bill that would ban almost all local oversight of short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, and lead to the spread of short-term rental units in neighborhoods throughout the state.

A large majority of Nebraska voters – 70% – believe it is important for local officials to actively monitor short-term rental properties to deter criminal activity in residential areas. 64% of Nebraska voters also agree that the presence of commercial short-term rental properties in residential communities raises concerns about neighborhood safety.

A majority of voters – 73% – think that active oversight is important to ensure short-term rental owners and companies pay their fair share of taxes. 74% of voters also agree that lawmakers should prioritize the interests of homeowners and renters in residential areas above those of out-of-state commercial short-term rental investors.

“Nebraska voters should have a voice when it comes to the safety and security of their community. To that end, their opinions on the negative impact of short-term rentals matter,” said Alliance for Stronger Communities President Franklin Coley. “Unfortunately, wherever short-term rentals like Airbnbs are permitted to operate without local oversight – neighborhood disturbances follow. Nebraska residents who live alongside these rental properties should not have to endure these disruptions – like noise, pollution and even crime. Making matters worse, some state lawmakers are considering legislation that would further limit much-needed local oversight of short-term rentals. Local oversight must be maintained to protect Nebraska neighborhoods.”

How Short-Term Rentals Are Impacting Nebraska Public Safety

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Additional findings from the survey include:

• 61% of voters agree that residential areas should be inhabited by people who intend to live there for more than a few days.
• 54% of Nebraska voters agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities is harmful to a neighborhood’s sense of community.
• 51% agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities would deter them from buying or renting in a certain neighborhood.

Morning Consult Survey Methodology: This poll was conducted between March 11-20, 2023, among a sample of 400 registered voters from Nebraska. Interviews were conducted online and weighted to approximate a sample of Nebraska RVs based on age, gender, education, and 2020 presidential vote choice. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

About Alliance for Stronger Communities

Alliance for Stronger Communities is a coalition of neighbors – including child safety advocates, former law enforcement officials, parenting voices and bloggers, civic leaders, housing experts, homeowner association presidents and academics – coming together to form a collective voice to address issues impacting neighborhoods across the country.

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