NC neighbors angry over ‘parties’ at short-term rental house with hot tub, pool

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) – People living in the Lindley Park neighborhood are fed up with a short-term rental property, which they say has turned into a party house.

Greensboro Police officers have come out to the Airbnb on a couple of occasions because of noise complaints.

Once WGHP-TV started asking questions to the property management company, the listing for the home on Airbnb was taken down.

Neighbors said the loud parties started happening a few months back. The most recent one happened just a few days ago.

“I understand that Airbnbs are part of our world,” said Edgar Paras, who lives on Scott Avenue. “If it didn’t disrupt the neighborhood, our lifestyle, then I would have no problem with it.”

Paras has lived on Scott Avenue in Greensboro for about four years now.

“This neighborhood is a very quiet neighborhood, very family-oriented,” he said.

Paras said that peace and quiet started getting disrupted in November 2023 when the house directly next to his turned into an Airbnb.

“Large groups of people at the place partying outback by the hot tub, by the pool, just loud talking, loud music,” he said.

Paras captured this photo of more than a dozen people standing in the front yard.

“It’s now become part of our lives on any given day, but definitely on the weekends,” said Paras. “That’s when we see it really uptick, you know, with large groups or people there. My weekends are my time to relax, you know? And so now that’s become part of my routine is to, in my own words, sometimes co-manage it because I’m telling the owner of the issues so they can address them.”

The city sent the property owner a Notice of Violation on November 30, 2023, because the property did not comply with the land development ordinance. It states the property doesn’t comply because the owner or operator of the tourist home does not reside on site.

It also stated the owner would receive a civil penalty if he didn’t fix the problem by December 29, 2023. The owner filed an appeal with the city. The appeal hearing is on hold because new short-term rental rules go into effect April 1.

Property owners will have to have a zoning permit to operate. With that permit, they’ll also have to have a local point of contact to help address issues in real time.

The property management company sent WGHP the following statement:

While we understand the neighbors have expressed frustration at the noise caused by some guests, we take every precaution available to prevent such occurrences. Guests are provided with a series of “house rules” including: no hot tub usage after 10PM, no parties, and quiet time beginning at 10PM. Those rules are posted on the listing and sent separately to guests upon booking. We’ve also maintained open and cordial communications with the neighbors in an attempt to resolve any issues. While there may be occasional guests who cause disruption, the vast majority cause no issues at all. 

The City of Greensboro is aware the property is used as a short term rental and we are in compliance with the newly adopted ordinance on short term rentals which goes into effect April 1. Our property provides a “home away from home” for folks travelling to Greensboro for the many activities, conferences, sports events, etc. taking place here and as a result it is an important part of the local economy.