Opera Tower sues Airbnb, claims short-term rentals turned Miami condo building into ‘unlicensed hotel’ – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

(WSVN) – Just a month after a 7News investigation into pandemic parties at Miami condos, one building is taking action. Karen Hensel of 7 Investigation

A DJ playing pulsating music, colored lights and no social distancing.

The video, posted to Instagram in late July, is not from a club but from a condo at Opera Tower in Miami.

Brian Przystup, condo owner: “They always arrive in groups without masks, without social distancing.”

Brian Przystup has owned a unit here since the building opened in 2008, but the Miami Heat mega fan is excited about what he says is an ongoing issue.

Some owners rent out their units to a steady stream of guests.

Karen Hensel: “So did all of this force you to leave?”

Brian Przystup: “I stayed in my office a few nights on weekends because weekends are the worst.”

Now the Opera Tower Condominium Association is asking a judge to slam the door on short-term rentals.

They are suing Airbnb, claiming the online platform “hijacked the condo property and turned it into its own de facto unlicensed hotel.”

Included in the trial is a link to this report from 7News from August.

Resident: “You kind of feel like you’re a prisoner in your own building. It’s a bit crazy.

That’s when locals first told us that a combination of COVID, loud parties and violence had turned luxury living into a nightmare.

Resident David Ewing: “We had a shooting here a few weeks ago.”

The police say shots were fired inside the Opera Tower on June 16 after an argument, but according to the lawsuit, it was just an incident.

The association found that between 2017 and 2020, there were 397 911 calls and “numerous crimes” in the building, “including thefts, assaults and allegations of rape.”

They say over half a million dollars a year is now spent on security.

Brian Przystup: “Leaving the building and returning home at night, I literally fear for my life. I carry mace.

Last month, Airbnb announced a worldwide party banand in response to the lawsuit, the company told 7News, “All Airbnb users agree to abide by applicable laws and regulations…and we have shared Opera Tower Association’s concerns with members of our Airbnb community. welcome.”

Residents have shared their concerns with us with videos and photos of the continued commotion in the condos. From people appearing to sneak through the garage, to queues in the lobby, and broken elevator buttons.

They also took to social media to document these concerns.

Video on social networks: “It is 11:57 p.m. The opera is running at full speed. Very little social distancing.

Brian Przystup: “I will not stop my mission until every short-term rental is out of this building, and we get back to our safety, our livelihood.”

Two days after our first Opera Tower story, this cease and desist letter was posted at the building. It’s from the City of Miami announcing an investigation into short-term rentals and any city code violations. The association also filed lawsuits against two individual unit owners.

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