AUSTIN -- Nestled in a quiet East Austin neighborhood is a three bedroom house, with enough beds to sleep 11. It's a popular short term rental (STR) property for tourists but some of neighbors aren't too happy with it.
"I think at this point it's become, I've become a political target," said Jason Martin, who co-owns the house along with four other STRs in Austin.
He said lately, backlash over his business has made things difficult.
"It's been a virtual nightmare," Martin said.
It's a sentiment felt by neighbors as well.
"Every weekend is 10-plus guys, checking in and it seems to be large groups of guys and bachelor parties," said Tracy Smith, who lives on the same street as the home.
Now that the council is revising the rules for STRs, Martin is labeled a "bad actor."
"I've been under an absolute microscope and can say for a fact I have been very diligently operating under the current STR ordinance," Martin said. "It have very, very strict noise rules."
Martin said he doesn't allow more than six unrelated adults or a total of 11 people to stay in this house.
Austin Code staff are familiar with Martin and said they've had challenges with some of his properties. In July, officers did a pilot program, checking on STRs on nights and weekends. They stopped at one of Martin's properties where renters admitted more than a dozen people were staying here.
"Three of them are triplets born within like five or 10 minutes of each other," the renter told the code officers. "He and I are brothers by marriage."
"You have to prove that they're not related. So how do you prove that they're not related," said Austin Code Officer Anthony Major.
They also told KVUE the permit on the home was expired.
Martin said there was an error in the system that delayed the permit renewal.
The Austin City Council will hold a public hearing at its meeting Thursday to discuss an ordinance that would prohibit the city from issuing any new Type 2 STR permits. Martin said Austin leaders should instead have a different conversation about STRs.
"There's a philosophical debate, right, whether this belongs in residential neighborhoods or not. Whether it's even residential activity. I think a reasonable debate to have and I think both sides have reasonable arguments," said Martin.
The council is scheduled to have the public hearing at 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Austin City Hall.
