MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphians are calling for more accountability at short-term rentals like AirBNB and VRBO after a deadly shooting early Sunday morning near Overton Square, which neighbors said happened at a rental property.
AirBNB shows more than 670 properties listed near Madison and Cooper where the shooting happened, while VRBO lists more than 300.
Companies like AirBNB have been trying to crack down on large parties, even going as far as banning them last year. Despite this, neighbors in Midtown said a party led to the shooting. There may be no way to contact the host of the Midtown property, but Memphians want to see change.
Across the country, cities have seen shootings break out from parties at short-term rentals, stretching from Pittsburgh to Dallas. Lawmakers like Memphis City Councilman Worth Morgan have been trying to address this issue since the short-term rentals began popping up over a decade ago.
“Nobody at that time considered that it would evolve into the business that it is today,” said Morgan.
The Midtown shooting brought the issue to light once again. Neighbors told ABC24 they want to see it stop.
“We don’t want to see that so close to Overton Square,” one neighbor told ABC24.
In July, a new rule from the Memphis City Council went into effect to cut down on potential parties by requiring new properties to have permits and a local point of contact.
“We’re catching up, and right now we have our ordinances set to the strictest parameters that we’re allowed to by state law,” said Morgan.
State lawmakers tell ABC24 it is the Short-Term Rental Act from 2018, sponsored by Senator John Stevens and now Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, which limits how much cities in Tennessee can regulate vacation rentals.
“The city and the state are not the same, and so it’s the local leaders that know what’s best in order for the city to operate the best,” said Senator London Lamar, who represents the neighborhood where the Sunday shooting took place.
Senator Lamar is calling for lawmakers to amend the rule and return more power to local governments.
“This is a sign of tourism, people wanting to come visit Memphis and stay,” said Lamar, “We need to explore what that looks like that doesn’t disadvantage anyone who is before the law or after.”
A VRBO representative said the address of the home is not listed on its website, but the posting is still there, though it does not appear to be taking reservations.