Why the Eagle Nest Board is pushing new limits on rental properties and short-term rentals

Eagle Nest is a neighborhood of families, highly sought homes with mature lots, friendly neighbors and block conversations, and people who look out for one another.

That is worth protecting.

The Eagle Nest Board is asking residents to consider a revision to our neighborhood covenants that would prohibit new rental properties and ban short-term rentals, including Airbnb- and Vrbo-style rentals.

Last month, all lot owners should have received a packet in their mailbox with a cover letter, proposed covenant amendments and a proxy form to fill out and return to the Board’s mailbox (8075 Teel Way) or email to enpoa_sec@att.net.

The purpose is simple: to preserve Eagle Nest as a stable, owner-occupied residential neighborhood and to prevent the kinds of problems other neighborhoods have faced when homes are converted into commercial short-term rental properties.

The question is whether homes in Eagle Nest should increasingly be used as investment rentals, short-term party houses, or hotel-style lodging in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

The Board – and many lot owners we’ve heard from – believe the answer should be no.

Why this matters now

Across Indianapolis and nearby communities, short-term rentals have become a growing concern. Many owners operate responsibly. Some live nearby, screen guests carefully, and respond quickly if a problem occurs.
But that is not always the case.

Some short-term rental homes are owned by investors who do not live in those neighborhoods and may not have to deal with the late-night noise, parking problems, trash, property damage, or safety concerns that neighbors experience. In the worst cases, homes advertised as short-term rentals have been used for large parties that get out of control.

Local news reports in recent years have documented multiple shootings, gunfire incidents, and police responses connected to parties or gatherings at short-term rental properties in the Indianapolis metro area. These incidents have happened in neighborhoods where residents did not expect them and where neighbors later said they wished more had been done sooner.

Eagle Nest should learn from those experiences before we face similar problems here.

Owner-occupied neighborhoods are different

There is a reason many people choose an HOA neighborhood like Eagle Nest.

They want a residential community where people know their neighbors, care for their homes, maintain their yards and properties, follow shared standards, and have a long-term interest in the neighborhood’s future.

Owner-occupants are more likely to notice when something is wrong. They are more likely to know the people next door. They are more likely to care about how a home, yard, driveway, or party affects the rest of the street.

That does not mean every owner is perfect or every renter is a problem. It simply recognizes a basic reality: a neighborhood made up of mostly owner-occupied homes is different from one with a growing number of investment properties or revolving short-term guests. 

This is about prevention

The Board is not proposing this because Eagle Nest is overrun with short-term rentals. The point is to act before that happens.

Once a neighborhood begins to see more investor-owned rental properties or short-term rentals, it can be difficult to reverse course. Homes can be purchased by investors. Listings can appear online. Problems may not become visible until neighbors are dealing with noise, cars, trash, parties, or public safety calls.

A clear covenant now gives the neighborhood a stronger position before problems spread.

What Indianapolis has already done

Indianapolis has recognized that short-term rentals require oversight. The city now requires short-term rental properties to be registered and permitted. The city’s permit system is intended to create a record of these properties and make it easier to contact owners and respond to nuisance problems.
That is helpful, but registration alone does not guarantee that a short-term rental will be a good fit for every residential neighborhood.

Airbnb also has policies against disruptive gatherings, open-invite parties, excessive noise, parking problems, vandalism, reckless behavior, and other community disturbances. Those policies are important. But again, they usually come into play after a problem has already occurred. 

Eagle Nest has the opportunity to set its own standard now. 

What the proposed Owner-Occupant amendment would do

The proposed covenant revision would:

• Prohibit new rental properties in Eagle Nest.

• Ban short-term rentals, including Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar arrangements.

• Help preserve Eagle Nest as an owner-occupied residential neighborhood.

• Reduce the risk of party-house activity, nuisance problems, and investor-owned properties with little connection to the neighborhood.

• Protect the quality of life and property values that residents have worked hard to build.

The proposal would not stop residents from having guests, family visits, house sitters, or ordinary social gatherings. And it has provisions for family trusts and military personnel who are deployed. It is focused on the use of homes as rental properties or short-term commercial lodging.

Why your vote matters

Changing neighborhood covenants requires a majority of lot owner support. That means every vote matters. This is not a Board decision. It is a neighborhood decision. 

Residents have a choice: Wait until short-term rentals become a problem in Eagle Nest, or act now to make our expectations clear. 

The Board believes this proposal is a practical, reasonable step to protect the character, safety, and long-term value of our neighborhood. 

Please, take time to read the proposed owner-occupant language, contact the Board with any questions, and make your voice heard with your proxy vote.

Thank you in advance for your support.

The Eagle Nest Board