CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—A homeowner in southwest Cape Coral says short-term rentals have changed the feel of her once quiet street.
Katie Wojtowicz says late-night parties, loud music, and constant disturbances are now part of almost every week. She has lived on Bayshore Drive for five years and says that after Hurricane Ian, short-term rental owners started buying up homes in her neighborhood.
“These are single-family home neighborhoods,” Wojtowicz said. “It doesn’t seem ethical to me that these places come in that essentially operate like motels and hotels.”
Wojtowicz says the disruptions aren’t just affecting daily walks. The noise from neighboring rentals can be heard inside her home.
“Most people do follow the rules, from what I see, anyway, but the ones that don’t are always where the problems arise, the loud music, the late-night partying,” Wojtowicz said.
The house right next door to Wojtowicz is a rental. WINK News Reporter Bella Line called the company listed on the property appraiser’s website, but has not heard back.
According to the city’s website, the owners have already been cited twice this year for allowing people to stay for fewer than six nights, which violates Cape Coral’s rules. When Line searched Airbnb’s website, more than 1,000 listings were available to book for a weekend.
Al Perez lives down the road and says he hears the noisy neighbors, too.
“To have that, you know, that hotel atmosphere, I don’t think is right,” Perez said. “I work for a living, and then, you know, I want to rest, and I don’t want to have to hear noises, and I can’t go to sleep.”
The Cape Coral Police Department says when they arrive, they first determine whether the noise is loud enough to be heard inside a home, and then a warning may be issued, but Wojtowicz says it hasn’t stopped.
“Why is it fair that I am told to just deal with it, when shouldn’t it be the law-abiding citizens that are the ones who are being fought for here?” Wojtowicz said.