Fueled by the housing bust and embraced by cost-conscious, Web-savvy travelers, short-term vacation rentals have been booming from Manhattan to Maui. But so has controversy, as irate residents complain about the negative impact of transient neighbors and traditional lodgings say inconsistent local laws put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Now, a coalition of major players in the short-term (less than 30 consecutive days) rental market – Airbnb, FlipKey, HomeAway and TripAdvisor – have joined forces to influence cities’ attempts to regulate or ban the trend. Their new website, the Short Term Rental Advocacy Center, spotlights current legislation in 10 U.S. jurisdictions and is aimed primarily at policy makers and owners, says spokesman Tim Doyle.
RELATED: Airbnb: There’s no place like someone else’s home
SEE ALSO: Travelers buy or share to beat pricey hotel costs
Among the most controversial legislation is New York City’s, where hotel rates are among the highest in the country. Enacted in 2011, the law prohibits most rentals of less than 30 days unless the owner or tenant is present or no money changes hands. In 2012, reports Forbes.com, the city did 828 inspections and issued 2,239 violations for short-term rentals. This year, fines for repeat offenders go up to a maximum of $25,000.
But, argues the advocacy group’s website, “illegal, short-term rentals are still available in America’s largest city despite the constant threat of fines. Reforming the law with sensible regulations that allow registration and rentals could bring upwards of $155 million to the state in income tax, occupancy taxes and tourist spending.”
“We support compliance with existing laws, whether that be collection of local taxes, registration requirements or other provisions,” the website adds. “However, we believe any regulations on short-term rentals should be easy to locate, understand and comply with, and existing regulations tend to provide ample tools for addressing the actions of a few bad apples.”
As for the small inns and bed-and-breakfasts that compete with vacation rentals as “un-hotel” alternatives, “we don’t want to see any more Draconian laws like the one in New York, which renders nearly all short-term rentals and BBs illegal,” says Jay Karen of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International. “We want to see local authorities find ways to properly and fairly regulate the market, (but) we are concerned about the safety and well-being of travelers staying in homes of people who are not in the primary business of providing lodging.”
Is your vacation rental legal?
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét