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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Franklin Coley; [email protected]

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

Tennessee legislature considering bill that would weaken rental oversight 

Nashville, TN (April 6, 2023) – Large majorities of Tennessee 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 Tennessee state legislators are considering potential legislation 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 vast majority of Tennessee voters – 81% – believe it is important for local officials to actively monitor short-term rental properties to deter criminal activity in residential areas. 72% of Tennessee voters also agree that the presence of commercial short-term rental properties in residential communities raises concerns about neighborhood safety.

A majority of voters – 75% – 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. 73% of voters also think that active oversight is important to ensure short-term rental owners and companies pay their fair share of taxes.

“We know that short-term rentals are becoming increasingly problematic in communities across Tennessee, and this poll shows that large majorities of Tennessee voters have real concerns about neighborhood security when it comes to risks posed by these largely unregulated properties,” said Alliance for Stronger Communities President Franklin Coley. “Without necessary local oversight of these properties, neighborhood disturbances will continue to rise. Unfortunately, the Tennessee legislature is considering legislation that would open the floodgates to even more of this activity across the state. Tennesseans need the ability to exercise local oversight over short-term rentals in order to protect their communities from the safety risks these properties pose.”

How Short-Term Rentals Are Impacting Tennessee Public Safety

Birthday party at Tennessee short-term rental becomes homicide scene

Bachelorette break-in: 12 women robbed in a Nashville Airbnb in 12 South

Knoxville Airbnb shut down after warning notices, loud party

Additional findings from the survey include:

• 66% of voters agree that residential areas should be inhabited by people who intend to live there for more than a few days.
• 59% of Tennessee voters agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities is harmful to a neighborhood’s sense of community.
• 59% agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities can lower the value of surrounding properties.
• 59% agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities would deter them from buying or renting in a certain neighborhood.
• 54% agree that commercial rental properties, including short-term rentals, should not be in residential areas.

Morning Consult Survey Methodology: This poll was conducted from March 11-17, 2023, among a sample of 600 registered voters from Tennessee. Interviews were conducted online and weighted to approximate a sample of Tennessee registered voters based on age, gender, education, and 2020 presidential vote choice. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 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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