LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A neighbor reached out to FOX5 about what can be done about a persistent nuisance in her neighborhood that she calls “the short-term rental from hell.”
The home in question is located off Spring Mountain Road and Twain, and Clark County code officials confirm five investigations into illegal short-term rental since 2019 and a current open investigation.
FOX5 has covered recent enforcement efforts to crack down on short-term rental parties and noise during the Super Bowl. While there are thousands of listings across the Las Vegas Valley, many are listed illegally and unincorporated Clark County has not yet issued licenses. Homeowners recently made a public plea for relief for a legal way to pay the bills.
The neighbor tells FOX5 that numerous people have reported violations to the FixIt App over the years, but as soon as the homeowner is warned, the problems stop—then return.
Recent surveillance shows cars leaving and coming at odd hours and documentation of noise throughout the night from strangers. As far back as three years ago, surveillance shows a visitor leaning over a neighbor’s wall at 3 a.m.
The neighbor did not want to reveal their identity out of fear of retailiation; recently, someone keyed her car.
“Living next to an Airbnb sucks. I don’t know what else to do…every day is Stranger Danger. I want it to stop. It’s not (a neighborhood) its the Motel 6. My life is wondering, who’s next door?” the neighbor said to FOX5 over the phone. She’s concerned about strangers around her children.
FOX5 reached out to Clark County about the history of investigations surrounding the property and next steps.
“Code Enforcement has a history of five different cases for unlicensed short-term rentals from 2019 to present, one of which is active. In each of the prior cases, the property owner has brought the property into compliance by either stopping the renting entirely or has moved in long term tenants (over 31 days), which is allowed. When a property owner brings their property into compliance, Code Enforcement monitors the property for several weeks to a few months to ensure they have stopped the activity. Code Enforcement also often reaches out to the complainant, as they did with this address prior to closing the case to see if the complainant has additional information to believe the activity is still occurring.
The current case on this property was opened on February 9, 2024. The advertisements for the property show a minimum night booking requirement of 31 days, which is allowed by the code. However, property owners often show a listing of 31 days, but may rent for a shorter term. Code Enforcement has conducted four inspections of the property since February 9. Code Enforcement was able to contact a person on the property on March 30 who indicated he has been on the property for two weeks and he had a lease agreement for over 31 days.
Clark County Code Enforcement has a number of enforcement tools available to them to assist in gaining compliance with problem short-term rental properties, including issuing notices of violation, fines, liens, misdemeanor citations and other court actions as needed. The goal, whenever possible, is to gain voluntary compliance through education.
Another property on the same street was investigated for illegal listings, and code enforcement recently issued a warning to cease operations.
Clark County officials urge residents to continue to report problems to help investigators.
The neighbor tells FOX5, as County officials seek to issue licenses, she hopes that they pick areas that are not densely populated.
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