HOUSTON — City leaders are trying to come up with a way to help residents who are fed up with wild parties at short-term rental properties across Houston.
It's a problem that KHOU 11 News has been reporting on for weeks.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said he contacted Police Chief Troy Finner to put a group together to help combat the issue. Whitmire also said he's going to reach out to county constables and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The city attorney is working on crafting a long-term ordinance to treat the rentals like hotels.
Kathy Yang is one of many who are tired of what's going on around her home in the Westhaven Estates neighborhood near the intersection of San Felipe and Fountain View. She said she recently saw guests at a short-term rental property in her townhome community having sex on a balcony.
"Monday morning, 8:30, when parents drop their kids at elementary school down the street," Yang said.
Yang and other neighbors described the noise, blocked driveways, partying and other headaches they've been dealing with.
"There've been drug deals, underage girls brought by the dozen," Alex Zhanov said.
They said they've seen people walking around with guns and snakes, as well, in their neighborhood.
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"It has been a living nightmare. This generally starts on a Thursday night, it goes all night long and it continues until about Monday morning," Nancy Rutherford told KHOU 11 News last month.
A day after hearing from neighbors, City Council members on Wednesday said they're ready to act on the problem properties.
"I'd like to come up with a game plan," Mary Nan Huffman said.
One idea involves partnering with the county and Whitmire said he wants the county's help.
"We need to get the county attorney involved ... see if we can declare some of these multi-unit locations as a nuisance," he said.
Whitmire referenced that when District Attorney Kim Ogg led the anti-gang task force, entire apartment complexes were declared nuisances. The goal was to prevent gang members from returning.
Whitmire said the city needs to get creative to solve the problem.