In a recent post, we talked about a few myths and fears about Airbnbs and other short-term rentals (STRs) in Nashville. One of the city’s residents’ biggest concerns is that STRs can bring a certain amount of unrest to otherwise peaceful neighborhoods. Residents picture their nice, quiet streets overrun with bachelor and bachelorette parties. It is our job as Airbnb hosts to change this perception over time.

Being community-minded is still vital, even if you own a property that functions as a business for you.

First, after neighbors have signed your paperwork acknowledging that they understand they’ll be living near an STR property, make sure to follow up. Consider popping some chocolate into mailboxes with your business card (or that of your property manager) tucked into a handwritten note about your constant availability for concerns or questions that arise.

Make sure neighbors know that guests are screened and will respect the neighborhood.

In your note, be sure to mention that measures are being taken to ensure that safety and good behavior are priorities. You may even consider giving them an idea of the types of rules you intend to enforce, keeping the neighborhood a safe and happy place to be.

Make your guests aware of their responsibilities by creating a clear list of house rules.

Be clear with guests in the listing that your house and your neighborhood are to be respected. Be open about the fact that they’re staying in a residential neighborhood. Remind them that you love your neighbors and if they are loud or inappropriate in any way that disturbs the neighbors, they will be evicted immediately. Consider house rules that will still offer good guest experiences while safeguarding neighbors. For example, no smoking (even outside); enforced quiet hours; no additional guests besides those in the reservation; and absolutely no parties on the property.

Celebrate your neighbors and go the extra mile just like you would if you lived in the home.

Be intentional about putting small gifts (like candy or even just cards) into mailboxes during the holidays. If there are block parties thrown, be sure to attend and interact with neighbors. If you happen to know any of them personally, hear of a baby being born, or a wedding taking place, acknowledge the event any way you see fit.

In 2016, Nashville was voted the friendliest city in America by Travel + Leisure, and featured on Huffington Post for the same reason. In the end, this is about preserving Nashville’s core values of kindness and respect for others—the people who live here and our guests.

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Still have questions about making your neighbors happy with their relationship with you as an STR owner or struggling with other things that have popped up? Don't hesitate to contact us now. We'll work together to see how we can solve any issues stemming from managing your STR! 

In a town like Nashville, there’s no end to the rumors that circulate. And when it comes to Airbnb and short-term rentals (STRs) in Nashville, it seems the rumor mill has been churning at an alarming rate.

Trust me, I’ve heard some doozies. So if you’ve been told things that have left you scratching your head, I’ve got you covered. Today, I’ll walk you through the four most common myths floating around and give you the real facts so you can help stop the madness.

Myth: Nashville may ban all Airbnb properties.

Owner-occupied STRs have never been in jeopardy. Yes, Metro Codes has proposed a ban on non-owner occupied STRs, but on October 3rd, they deferred the vote until January. A sub-committee has been formed to research and review the STR situation, and make a recommendation on the best way forward in January. As a phase out of non-owner occupied STRs is still possible, it’s incredibly important that you reach out to city council to voice your support of homesharing and personal property rights.  

Myth: The majority of STR owners are out-of-state investors.

This is simply not true. In fact, a whopping 88.8% of owners live in Tennessee. The majority of Airbnbs are run by people who not only live in the community but also care deeply about what happens in the community. They offer authentic local experiences to visitors and point them towards local businesses and independent restaurants, which supports and stimulates our city’s economy. By and large, Airbnb owners are not unconcerned outsiders but active, engaged, responsible members of the community.

Myth: STRs are causing a housing shortage in Nashville.

Nashville is a booming city—it’s experiencing all the typical growing pains that accompany this type of exponential growth. A shortage of affordable housing is definitely a concern, and it’s one that Mayor Barry has made a priority to address. However, it’s almost fashionable to blame STRs when folks can’t find exactly what they’re looking for on the housing market. The fact is, though, non-owner occupied STRs comprise just .4% of all housing units in Nashville. That’s certainly not enough to be causing the housing shortage.

Myth: STRs cause significant problems in neighborhoods.

This is one I hear frequently. Why? In part, because Nashville has become a wildly popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties. I’ve heard claims that these groups of visitors cause frequent complaints and police visits. While there are definitely problem guests (and, dare I say, problem hosts), the scale of these issues has been sensationalized beyond belief. In truth, STR homes comprise only .2% of all complaints to police and Codes.

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Undoubtedly, the STR industry is great for cities, and Nashville is no exception. As I shared in a recent post, in Nashville alone, $477 million has been generated in economic impact through STRs in a single year. This industry also helps drive traffic to local businesses: 50% of Airbnb guests spend directly in the neighborhood in which they’re staying. STRs have created more than 5,000 jobs and have generated $152 million in wages and benefits. These are all great things.

No matter how much truth we try to spread, rumors fly, so if you hear anything else wild, just shoot us a message. We just might address your question in a future blog post or ezine.

For more information or to get started with your own short-term rental, check out our new ebook. It's filled with great information on getting up and running with your STR in our awesome town. Check it out here!

Metro Council's most recent meeting was this past Tuesday (October 3rd). On the agenda, once again, was Bill BL2017-608, which proposes to phase out non-owner occupied short-term rentals. Following yet another long and spirited discussion, the Council narrowly voted to defer the bill until January.

The ad-hoc committee tasked with researching and reviewing the issue, in order to make a recommendation to the Council, has yet to finish their report. By January, their report should be completed and will hopefully steer a fairer revision of the bill. 

Unfortunately, permits for non-owner occupied short-term rentals are not being issued until a determination is made regarding the bill. This "pause" on issuing permits has been in effect since the bill was first introduced in February.

Now's the time to call and email our council members to voice support of fair homesharing laws. 

Don't worry about being wordy or eloquent. Short and succinct is always best! If you feel unsure of what to say, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Who you are and why homesharing is important to you

• Why Nashville residents should be able to share their homes

• How homesharing helps local residents earn extra income to cover household bills and afford to live in our ever-increasingly expensive city

• How homesharing brings visitors and business travelers to more neighborhoods, where they spend more of their money at local businesses

• Why you want fair, common-sense regulations for short-term rentals in Nashville

Be polite, positive, and gracious, thanking them for their time and consideration. Always include your address at the end of your email, as it's crucial for council to know they are hearing from constituents.

Address your message to your district's council member, all at-large council members, and the Vice Mayor. All their contact information is available here ￫  You can also email all council members with this one email address ￫

It's time to let your voice be heard on this vital issue, even if you've contacted the council about it in the past.