Short-term rental landlord apologizes after recent shooting in Plano area

Neighbors in Plano’s Oakwood Glen area are still experiencing the trauma of waking up shots almost two weeks ago.

The doorbell camera captured a street brawl followed by gunshots. One of the bullets pierced the window of a neighbor’s house, entered the kid’s playroom, went through the wall and ricocheted off the blinds and the frame of the picture, after which it hit the cat’s tray.

Neighbors believe the shooting was caused by a party that took place in a rented house across the street on Cannes Drive.

Homeowner Jennifer Xiao wrote a statement apologizing to her neighbors and also sharing her concerns.

“First of all, I must apologize for what happened, I apologize to my neighbors. I feel very sad for myself and my neighbors,” Xiao said.

She said that she was recently divorced, was a single mother, and needed extra money, so she rented the house out short-term.

Xiao says she has chosen online booking companies such as Airbnb and VRBO to list the house for sale. She said some Airbnb bookings were blocked because they were “considered risky.”

She said that the guests who stayed at her house on the weekend of February 26 were through Vrbo.

“On the night of filming, I repeatedly confirmed that everything was fine and reminded the guests not to disturb the neighbors, after which I went to bed. The next day at 6 am, I received emails and text messages from my neighbor. When I saw the words “shot”, I felt as if I had been electrocuted. For the first time in my life, I was directly involved in such a heinous crime,” Xiao said.

In a statement, she stated that she was dissatisfied with the way Vrbo handled the case.

“I immediately called Vrbo support for help, but after I reported the shooting, they just kept asking me for proof. I made a second and third call, they didn’t care what happened and they didn’t ask anything about the shooting.
shooting. They just kept repeating the same words. The Vrbo website claims to provide $1 million in liability insurance for each host to cover neighbor damages, but when I made a request for my neighbor, they ignored it,” Xiao said.

NBC 5 contacted Vrbo via email, which is the only way on their website to contact them, but received no response.

“The shooting had a huge impact on me and our neighborhood. I’m so scared and I also really blame myself. I feel sick when I talk and think about this house. I can’t sleep, I may need psychological help. I fully understand the concerns of my neighbors. I know what safety means to residents, especially if it is a peaceful and safe area,” Xiao said.

Apart from this particular incident, opponents of short-term leases say this is an example of why they want them out of Plano.

“Our goal is basically to enforce the law, to enforce the ban on bed and breakfasts in our single-family neighborhoods,” said Bill France with Plano, Texas Neighborhood Coalition.

France said that people renting their homes short-term are violating existing laws, which he says are not enforced, which is why he and others want a specific ordinance for short-term rentals, like in Arlington.

“The City of Arlington has taken steps to say, ‘You’re allowed short-term rentals here, but you’re not allowed here,’ and that’s all we’re asking the city for,” Frans said. .

Plano city council plans to discuss short-term lease orders next Monday, March 13th.

On the other side of the coin, there are those who prefer short-term rentals.

“I feel like it should be allowed, but with many restrictions,” said Ofir Bugana, a realtor who owns property for short-term rentals herself.

Bugana, who said she sold the houses to people in Plano who planned to rent them out, said she agreed the neighbors shouldn’t be disturbed.

She said she supports restrictions such as banning large parties or groups from renting out property, but does not support a total ban.

Bugana said she is trying to take extra steps to keep her neighbors, guests and home from being safe.

“Neighbors, they have my personal number, they can contact me at any time, even in the middle of the night, to make sure they feel safe. Before that, I check on my guests to make sure they’re not doing anything. any noises after 10 or at all, we do have noise sensors in the house,” Bugana explained.

She acknowledges that there may be people who do not manage short-term rentals properly and opposes this, but does not believe that all short-term rentals should be punished.

“If one actor misbehaves, it doesn’t mean that everyone else has to suffer,” said Bugana, who said she supports the community working together to keep people safe.