MIAMI (WSVN) – Some residents of a Brickell apartment complex are aggravated with their homeowner\u2019s association after a large influx of short-term renters have turned life at the building into chaos.<\/p>\n
A video posted by OnlyInDade offers a succinct summary of residents\u2019 growing frustrations, as the entrance to The Club at Brickell Bay at 1200 Brickell Bay Drive was jam-packed with people waiting in line just to get onto the elevator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought this as my forever home so I don\u2019t have any plans to move; I don\u2019t want to move \u2014 I want them to move,\u201d said Christina Lardon, a resident. \u201cIt\u2019s their turn. Bye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents like Lardon say roughly 85% of the 43-story building\u2019s 600 units have been converted into Airbnb spots, which they say has routinely attracted short-term, and often careless, renters.<\/p>\n
Lardon argued the revolving door of renters is causing long-term residents to deal with increased expenses and headaches as a result of these unruly crowds.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut imagine an increase in water, trash, security and just absolute damage to the building,\u201d said Lardon. \u201cIt\u2019s not a hotel. We\u2019re not outfitted for these types of crowds.\u201d<\/p>\n
One photo outside the building appeared to show a discarded condom laying on the ground.<\/p>\n
After years of complaints from long-term residents and reporting on the hectic situation by the Miami Herald, the City of Miami has stepped in.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the building\u2019s homeowner\u2019s association, the city ordered all illegal short-term rentals to cease immediately, writing \u201cBased upon our preliminary investigation, there appear to be over 300 \u2018vacation\u2019 rentals available in the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
It goes on to say the building was only approved for 30 vacation rental units.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis operation creates a significant life safety issue as your building is not approved for fire, life safety or disability requirements as provided for in the relevant codes,\u201d the letter says. \u201cAll illegal vacation\/lodging rentals in violation of both State and local law must cease immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lardon told 7News some unit owners have used absurd levels of creativity to make a quick buck.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been enclosing the dining room, for example, and turning it into an extra bedroom so there\u2019s all these un-permitted walls or new rooms being created,\u201d said Lardon.<\/p>\n
In one such listing, a 1-bedroom rental unit for 14 adults was being offered for four nights at $1,862.<\/p>\n
She said listings like these have often led to quadruple the building\u2019s occupancy limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve committed crimes,\u201d said Lardon.<\/p>\n
In their complaints to building management, long-term residents described their situation as \u201cbeing held hostage\u201d and having no choice but to put up with the large crowds in the lobby and waiting obscene amounts of time for an elevator.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, can you imagine if there\u2019s a fire?\u201d said Lardon.<\/p>\n
Even though the city has finally started taking action, residents believe the years of violations being ignored and overlooked is an indictment of its own for officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an embarrassment on the city,\u201d said Lardon.<\/p>\n
Lardon added that she\u2019s hopeful that these long overdue actions are treated with the seriousness it deserves.<\/p>\n
While the ordeal has made living at the building a nightmare for long-term renters, visitors vacationing there for a few days found the chaotic scenes enjoyable, if only a bit inconvenient to deal with the long lobby lines.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see a lot of people waiting for the elevator here in the lobby,\u201d said Jose Fernandez, who is visiting from Spain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ceiling is just gross, it needs to be cleaned and there\u2019s just, like, a layer of dust on everything you touch but the location is excellent and we love the spacious rooms,\u201d said Linda Pate, who is visiting from Dubai.<\/p>\n
7News reached out to the building\u2019s management but they have refused to release any statement regarding residents\u2019 allegations.<\/p>\n
Meantime, City of Miami officials say staff at the building have 10 days to respond to the letter, which was originally delivered to management on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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