Massive party at West Dallas home raises concerns about short-term rentals

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DALLAS – A party that spiraled out of control Saturday night at a short-term rental west of downtown Dallas is renewing calls for tougher regulations on short-term rentals.

A neighbour filmed the house on Ivanhoe Lane after police arrived at around 10:40pm, showing a seemingly endless stream of people leaving the house.

“It’s like a nightclub atmosphere here,” Jason Wanderscheid said.

Wanderscheid says this is one of countless cases he has dealt with at the home since June 2023.

“We’re contacting 911,” he said. “It’s a really low priority for the Dallas Police Department, rightfully so, but thankfully they came this time and we’re very grateful to the Dallas Police Department.”

Police say they have made no arrests and that no crime has been reported in this case.

Wanderscheid bought a home in the West Dallas neighborhood six years ago, but he says he hasn’t had peace since the home next door was turned into a short-term rental.

“Your windows are shaking, we also have a dog, she is not happy about it either, it is impossible to sleep,” he said.

Wanderscheid showed FOX 4 several messages he sent to Airbnb. In one complaint, someone vomited in his yard.

“Especially around the holidays, people hold their breath, hoping there won’t be another party,” he said.

Airbnb has since removed the listing for the home and said Saturday’s party was not booked through them.

FOX 4 spoke with the owner over the phone and asked what platform the rental was made on.

He refused to answer the question.

He asked FOX 4 how he can be expected to police people who lie about their reservations.

“I’m really frustrated that someone would collect money without my consent, let people come into my house and turn it into a club,” he said. “I didn’t consent to that.”

The home is in Dallas City Councilman Omar Narvaez’s district. He voted for an ordinance banning short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods.

“Right now, our ordinance that we passed is on hold in the courts. We are waiting for the courts to make a decision. We have one of the strongest anti-STR ordinances,” Narvaez said.

The councilman said what happened on Saturday went beyond the issue of building a hotel in the area.

“These are not short-term rentals, these are illegal indoor entertainment centers,” Narvaez said. “There were over 200 people in this place. Tell me, is there any business that doesn’t have to have fire codes and everything else. And this is a home, so there are different standards.”

Narvaez said the city is working to determine what more can be done to protect residents.

An oral hearing on the short-term rental ordinance was scheduled for September 11 but was adjourned.

A new date has not yet been set.