Update: “I Got Everyone Towed”—Annoyed Homeowner Tows “Half the Neighborhood” Filled With Airbnb Guests, Shares an Update 2 Days Later When They Threaten Lawsuits

How should you handle errant parking of non-residents? Well, after getting half the street towed, this homeowner returned to share an update on what had happened in the 2 days since.

Communities and neighborhoods rely greatly on the idea that everyone will respect unwritten rules and social contracts for the greater good. (The greater good.) But it should stand as no surprise that short-term accommodation guests often care little for those things. The problem is exacerbated by the fact they're usually following the rules and directions that have been left by their hosts, who have never spent a single night in the house and also don't care much at all about their neighbors. The instructions they leave can be inaccurate or encourage rule-breaking, which could, in turn, spoil the guests' vacations. 

Parking is always a source of conflict in communities, but some people just don't know how to work with other people.

Since this is an update: This is our coverage of the original post from two days ago. 

But if you just want a brief overview, here is a brief summary:

A man and three neighbors in a popular holiday destination in southern France purchased a previously shared resident parking area from their homeowners association. They converted it into six clearly marked private parking spaces, leaving several unassigned spaces available for other residents. This was following ongoing parking issues with short-term rental guests from online apps who were renting in their neighbor's houses.

During the busy summer holiday season, these guests repeatedly parked in the owners' assigned spaces, leaving the actual owners unable to park near their homes. After posting warning signs, notifying residents, and giving plenty and repeated advance notice that unauthorized vehicles would be towed, they found the private lot full again.

And, well, there was only one thing to do about that: They had every unauthorized vehicle towed.

Chaos ensued. Angry Airbnb guests who wanted refunds. Angry Airbnb hosts who didn't want to pay them. All blaming the wrong people just as long as it wasn't themselves. Several owners and guests threatened legal action over refunds and towing costs, arguing they had not been warned, while the poster maintained the parking ownership had been established for a year, they just hadn't actually been to the houses they owned once in that time to see it.

Keep reading for the updated post below.