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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Franklin Coley; [email protected]

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

Texas legislature considering bill that would cause rentals to spread 

Austin, TX (March 28, 2023) – Large majorities of Texas 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 Texas state legislators are considering HB 2665, 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 vast majority of Texas voters – 79% – believe it is important for local officials to actively monitor short-term rental properties to deter criminal activity in residential areas. 72% of Texas voters also agree that the presence of commercial short-term rental properties in residential communities raises concerns about neighborhood safety.

A majority of voters – 71% – think that active oversight is important to ensure short-term rental owners and companies pay their fair share of taxes. 71% 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.

“Large majorities of Texas voters have real concerns about the safety and security risks short-term rentals like Airbnb pose to their neighborhoods, and for good reason,” said Alliance for Stronger Communities President Franklin Coley. “In cities across the country, wherever short-term rentals like Airbnbs are permitted to operate without local oversight, they attract out-of-control parties, violence and even shootings. Unfortunately, the Texas legislature is considering a bill that would open the floodgates on this type of activity across the state. Lone Star State residents deserve better. Texans deserve the ability to implement the commonsense local oversight required to protect their communities from the safety risks short-term rentals pose.”

How Short-Term Rentals Are Impacting Texas Public Safety

Shooting at Airbnb, Vrbo property has Plano residents doubling down on short-term rentals

2 people shot at party held at Airbnb near the Manvel area, Brazoria Co. Sheriff’s Office says

Man shot in the head during shootout outside Airbnb, police say

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.
• 61% of Texas voters agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities is harmful to a neighborhood’s sense of community.
• 61% agree that the presence of short-term rental properties in residential communities can lower the value of surrounding properties.
• 58% 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 March 10-17, 2023, among a sample of 1002 Registered Voters from Texas. Interviews were conducted online and weighted to approximate a sample of Texas 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 3 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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