Great location and house; an easy walk to the stockyards and all the amenities you will need for a home away from home. While this may not bother some people, I think it should be known upfront that this is the message David sent me the night before we checked in:
"We’re letting all our guests know that the city of Fort Worth code compliance has been cracking down on short term rentals, if there are any neighbor complaints.
So I am respectfully asking everyone to please be aware of that.
But not to worry. Here’s why:
Technically, short term rentals are against city ordinance in Fort Worth. But it has been VERY loosely enforced, unless there is a valid neighbor complaint
However, recently there have been a couple of neighborhood anti-STR activists, anonymously placing dozens of complaints to the city, fraudulently posing as neighbors dealing with a nuisance.
This has certainly caused us hosts great distress, as these are not legitimate nuisance based complaints
There is a movement by our 250 member strong (and growing daily) STR group, in conjunction with the mayor and most city counsil members, to remove this ordinance, and of course…….paying city Hotel Occupancy Taxes…HOT (guests already pay 6% to the state at booking. So of course the city also wants their cut..🥴).
In the meantime, if code compliance gets any VALID complaints from neighbors, they WILL post a notice for the owner to “cease-and-desist” operating as a short term rental….and may very well ask guests to vacate. That would be a big blow to both of us, obviously😖
They also may circulate through the neighborhood, trying to identify any properties operating as a short term rental. Should they knock on your door, our group suggests not answering, or if you do, say you’re friends with the owner (David St. Germain), and I’m letting y’all stay (for no $) for a few days….. as there is nothing they can do to negatively affect your stay.
Although we have offstreet driveway parking, for now, it would be helpful (by not identifying the presence of STR guests, especially if out-of-state license plates), by parking in the garage (at the Ranch House), and in back behind the CLOSED solid metal gate (at the Cowboy Cottage & Shack).
Again, this request/notice is not meant specific to you. I am passing this along to all of my guests, to make everyone aware of what is happening, and so as to not cause you any potential undue stress during your stay
My apologies for this this long winded message…..and THANK YOU for your consideration and understanding!
Please let me know if I can do anything to help ensure that y’all have a great visit to the Stockyards!"
While the house was an easy walk to the Stockyards and relatively clean, I would not stay again.