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~rden-variety complaints often cited by annoyed neighbors.
<br />Neighbors, planners, and property owners point co the
<br />correiati0n bet'ween such problems and length of'stay for the
<br />rental property, in other words: the shorter [he stay, the higher
<br />[he impact. The stereotypical "weekend warrior"--trying to pack
<br />[he most fun into the [east a_mount of time--will invariably
<br />generate more trips to [he store or beach, keep later hours, and
<br />create a greater disruption with light and noise. Still, for some
<br />communities, the concern is not so much the negative impacts as
<br />the lack of community involvement typical of transients.
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<br />Affordable Hau~in~
<br /> more insidious problem with short-term, rentals is their impact
<br />on homing costs. When property owners decide to increase fiaeir
<br />=rent stream" with short-term rental agreements rather than
<br />renting by [he season or year, [hey essentially "squeeze" [he
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<br />Politic5
<br />Planners admit to a dilemma: Many property owners lely on
<br />the rent streams and spending dollars generated by
<br />vacationers, but locals want to preserve their neighborhood's
<br />residential character. Furthermore, business owners would
<br />prefer to see an expansion of the local vacation lodging
<br />market. When property owners are unwilling co forfeit
<br />certain rights, leaving them a~ odds with neighbors who want
<br />the relative quietude expected in a single-Family
<br />neighborhood, what should be done?
<br /> indeed, people "vote with their feet" when chgosing vacation
<br />destinations or a permanent home, so l~o[ificians try to appease
<br />[he greatest number of'constituents, invariably,, residents will ·
<br />threaten ro abandon a once-beloved community or resort locale if
<br />renting a house on the beach or serding into a neighborhood
<br />means an endless stream Of' nuisances from disruptive vacarionersl
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<br /> Paved yards and excessive nurnber~ of vehicles at short-term
<br /> rental hornet are a common complaint yneighbors. Believe
<br /> ir or not, these are rhe jC)ont~ of the housei.(Above, righO
<br /> /!/lost shore-term remers are unaware of garbage collection
<br /> schedules. (Left) Boar and recreation veh}'cle parking it an
<br /> un?leasanr sight for neighbor~ in thi$ Monroe Coun¢
<br /> Florida, neighborhood.
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<br />Residents of Monroe County, Florida, put the issue on a ballot,
<br />narrowly decidings51 co 49 percent~against allowing short-
<br />term rentals in improved subdivisions (single-family districts).
<br />Subdivisior; retained I ~e rigt~: co vote on .~e issue stp:
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<br />Health, safety, and General Welfare
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<br />supply of'homing, pushing up the demand and, subsequendy,
<br />[he cost. Ty Simrosky, planning director for Key West, Florida,
<br />says, ~Ic's another mear~ of financing the acquisition of local '
<br />housing by non-local people and it fuels speculation in a rising
<br />homing marker." Simrosky explains [hat by allowing short-ecrm
<br />rentals, investors can cover [he carrying costs ora house for a year
<br />or t-a,o while [he property appreciates in value and then sell it for
<br />a healthy profit. Simrosky also says chat while long-term
<br />homebuyers are strongly opposed to short-term rentals in a
<br />prospective neighborhood, investment buyers are [ess inclined to
<br />care ifa neighboring properly'` is a short-term rental. This can
<br />create a snowball effect [hac eventually replaces 7ear-round
<br />neighborhood residents with vacationers.
<br /> Communities most affected by a housing shortage are those
<br />with businesses chat lely on lower-paying service and tourism
<br />jobs. High housing costs have pushed many workers out of the
<br />community, even beyond commuting distance. Simrosky also
<br />speculates [hat there are workers being bused in from :he
<br />Florida mainland ro'sleep in bunk-house conditions .iusr to work
<br />for three- or four-day periods in Key West.
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<br /> (Above, left) Short-term rentals in Shiv Bottom, N~v fler~ey.
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<br />.Subdivisions retained doe right co vote on the issue separately.
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<br />.Historically, property owners in resort communities could rent a
<br />home, re~rdless of' the duration of the stay, by claiming that .the
<br />house was nor used "primarily for commercial purposes." W"nat
<br />[his really meant was [hac [he structure could noc be uzed for
<br />such purposes for more than 50 percent of ~e year. However,
<br />planners claim that approach is difficult to monitor and easy to
<br />abuse. Most feel zoning codes and a licensing system offer a
<br />better solution despite the time and expense required for
<br />administering and enforcing new regulations.
<br /> Most of the surveyed communities deal with short-term
<br />rentals through the zoning code. imperial Beach, California,
<br />justifies irs interim short-term rental ordinance with a purpose
<br />and intent that stares "there is a current and immediate threat to
<br />the public health, safety, or welfare of irs citizens by owners or
<br />their agents renting or selling traits ~'br periods of thirty
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