An elderly couple in Phoenix have been hit with a restraining order over complaints made about a ‘loud’ rental property which is frequently used for late-night parties.
Linda Bliss and Mark Honold want to enjoy a quiet life in retirement but claim the short-term rental home they live behind is making their life a misery, according to local television station Arizona Family.
The pair have made at least five calls to Phoenix Police over the disruption and made several complaints to the property manager.
But they say problem has still not been addressed and they are being held ‘hostage’ inside their own home as the disruption occurs most weeks.
Things escalated when they said the property owner recently served them with a restraining order due to all their complaints.
Elderly couple Linda Bliss and Mark Honold have been hit with a restraining order over complaints made about a ‘loud’ rental property which is frequently used for late-night parties
The Phoenix couple want to enjoy a quiet life in retirement but claim the short-term rental home they live behind is making their life a misery
Things escalated when they said the property owner recently served them with a restraining order due to all their complaints
Bliss and Honold have grown frustrated at the regular occurrence of noise, parties and strangers looking over into their backyard.
‘We’re held hostage inside our house. It’s just so loud, you can hear everything,’ Honold said.
The couple said the landlord handed them a restraining order following an incident when they shouted at some guests to not be so loud.
‘It was very demeaning because I’m licensed by the state of Arizona for insurance, working with children, the elderly, and they came and treated me like a criminal.’
The manager of the property at the heart of the controversy said all guests are screened and loud parties are banned.
The short-term rental manager claimed the elderly couple are the only neighbors to complain about the guests.
The pair have made at least five calls to Phoenix Police over the disruption and made several complaints to the property manager
Bliss and Honold have grown frustrated at the regular occurrence of noise, parties and strangers looking over into their backyard
But they say problem has still not been addressed and they are being held ‘hostage’ inside their own home as the disruption occurs most weeks
Bliss and Honold believe that unless cities like Phoenix can introduce harsher rules on short-term rentals then homeowners in the state will suffer
Phoenix attorney Jonathan Dessaules offered advice to homeowners who find themselves in a similarly difficult situation.
‘My advice would be to document everything, keep a journal, walk by home and take pictures,’ he said.
‘If you are going to go to court, either as a victim or witness, or as party seeking injunction, you want to be able to put all the evidence in front of a judge.
‘And not just say, ‘Judge, take my word for it. This house is crazy.’
Bliss and Honold believe that unless cities like Phoenix can introduce harsher rules on short-term rentals then homeowners in the state will suffer.
‘It’s very disruptive,’ she said. ‘It’s totally changed our lives.’