Residents in a West Arlington neighborhood say they’ve formed a watchdog group to monitor illegal short-term rental properties in their community.

The group, called Woodland West Watchers, includes nearly 30 neighbors, each concerned with homes they say are being used in ways that violate city regulations.

“The concern is the safety of the kids, our house values. Overall, it’s against the law in the neighborhood,” said Brett Sutton, one of the concerned neighbors.

Sutton points to a nearby home he says has been converted into a 10-bedroom property, with multiple rooms rented out to different people.

“It’s just like an apartment complex in a neighborhood,” Sutton said. “We’ve had people run from the cops. He wrecked his car, and then they put the busted-up car back in the driveway.”

Arlington city rules restrict a single-family home to no more than four unrelated residents.

The City of Arlington confirmed that two properties on Yellowstone Drive are currently in violation of the city’s short-term rental regulations. Officials said both properties recently received two citations each.

According to the city, neither property has a short-term rental permit, and neither is eligible to operate as a short-term rental under current rules.

A larger problem

City leaders say the issue extends beyond just one neighborhood.

Arlington City Council member-at-large Bowie Hogg said the city is looking at dozens of potentially illegal rental properties.

“We believe we’ve identified probably 30 to 50,” Hogg said.

Some, he said, are long-term rentals but violate the “family” aspect of the city’s code.

“A 2,500 square foot house, someone went through and got permits and turned it into an eight-bedroom house,” Hogg said, “And they’re renting out the eight bedrooms to unrelated individuals.”

Hogg explained this increase in density can create logistical problems.

“As you can imagine, that is then creating issues with parking. It’s creating issues on the street,” he added.

Hogg said a city committee has been formed to examine ways to strengthen enforcement and close possible loopholes in the city’s ordinance.

“We’re also looking at like a one lease per single-family house,” he said.

Another possible solution, he said, is a rental registry for properties that have a history.

“If you have major violations, if you have health and sanitation violations, then you would have to register,” Hogg said.

The next committee meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m.

While city officials explore potential changes, neighbors like Sutton say they want faster action.

“We’re trying to even understand why they’re even still here on this street, why they’re just not shut down completely,” Sutton said, taking issue not with the renters, but the owners.

“It’s about the investors that are coming into neighborhoods buying houses and turning them into motels, hotel-type establishments, and that’s not what a neighborhood is for,” Sutton said.