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Momma Smurf

Momma Smurf

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This apt article popped up today citing AirB*B concerns across the universe:
http://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/02/maine-bill-seeks-restrictions-on-popular-short-term-home-rentals/
 
I think there is nothing wrong with AirBnB listing rentals.
However, they and other sharing services Uber, etc., grew on the concept of causing private citizens to provide services in obvious violations of code and zoning and tax laws. And AirBnb/Uber/etc. looked the other way.
Then these sharing services complained that municipalities should change the laws. And municipalities mostly did not enforce the laws much, except for NYC and a few others. And of course, prospective/current innkeepers had to jump through all the expensive fire, safety, food, noise, parking code and zoning things.
Years ago, I had a roofing company. I paid overtime, had insurance, got permits, offered legitimate service and warranties, etc. etc. And it wound up I couldn't keep up with all the "jacklegs" - 2 men and a truck types, who did none of that. The maddening thing was, is why weren't the code enforcement people going after them with a vengeance? It essentially put legit companies out of business, because you couldn't compete on price.
So IMHO, the real problem is the municipal zoning/code/tax enforcement authorities. If they had enforced the law properly and went after everyone jumping into the illegal listing businesses, this would not have happened.
How long does it take for a town to download the 70 active listings, and postal mail a cease and desist order? This would have stopped almost immediately.
 
undersea said:
I think there is nothing wrong with AirBnB listing rentals.
However, they and other sharing services Uber, etc., grew on the concept of causing private citizens to provide services in obvious violations of code and zoning and tax laws. And AirBnb/Uber/etc. looked the other way.
Then these sharing services complained that municipalities should change the laws. And municipalities mostly did not enforce the laws much, except for NYC and a few others. And of course, prospective/current innkeepers had to jump through all the expensive fire, safety, food, noise, parking code and zoning things.
Years ago, I had a roofing company. I paid overtime, had insurance, got permits, offered legitimate service and warranties, etc. etc. And it wound up I couldn't keep up with all the "jacklegs" - 2 men and a truck types, who did none of that. The maddening thing was, is why weren't the code enforcement people going after them with a vengeance? It essentially put legit companies out of business, because you couldn't compete on price.
So IMHO, the real problem is the municipal zoning/code/tax enforcement authorities. If they had enforced the law properly and went after everyone jumping into the illegal listing businesses, this would not have happened.
How long does it take for a town to download the 70 active listings, and postal mail a cease and desist order? This would have stopped almost immediately..
Click to expand...
1. AirBnB being for private citizens is BS. In fact, about 40% of their bookings are taken by people essentially running illegal hotels (ie multiple properties). In the case of Uber, it's in court dealing with the fact that it's an attempt to not provide things like healthcare.
2. In some places, AirBnB is a tax evasion scheme because AirBnB refuses to collect and pay the sales taxes, submit income statements, etc. In my jurisdiction, we are all required to register, have an independent inspection, insurance, etc. AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed.
3. AirBnB actively seeks to prevent authorities from doing their job. They hide the names, addresses and other information from authorities and try to use the courts to prevent authorities from doing their jobs.
4. AirBnB increases rents and decreases the availability of affordable apartments. In the case of NYC people have been caught many times using apartments that are rent controlled for AirBnB, essentially accepting the equivalent of government subsidy and then rerenting for thousands a month more.
 
"AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed"
Yes - that is the problem with this and other similar web businesses. They hide behind the concept that they just provide the medium for transactions, and that they are "not responsible" for what transpires.
That is also a business owner's nightmare with Yelp and other review sites. Anonymous reviewers (and competitors) can say whatever they want about a business, partially true or not, and it is very difficult to get it removed.
 
What I found humorous about this article is that the RANT really became about the bill writers because they are 'in the industry' so obviously it is a conflict of interest.
Sorry if this post was a little too political.
The comments seem to carry along that same path, not giving any thought about what the regulations do to protect those living in neighboring buildings.
Common way of thinking "Regulations are in place for everyone else, but leave me alone and let me do my own thing."
And 'this is just a government money grab' -
 
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card.
 
undersea said:
"AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed"
Yes - that is the problem with this and other similar web businesses. They hide behind the concept that they just provide the medium for transactions, and that they are "not responsible" for what transpires.
That is also a business owner's nightmare with Yelp and other review sites. Anonymous reviewers (and competitors) can say whatever they want about a business, partially true or not, and it is very difficult to get it removed..
Click to expand...
undersea said:
"AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed"
Click to expand...
In this way Air is no different than many of the other directory sites out there. I do not recall being asked for my bus. license when I signed up for B&B dot com, I
heart.gif
inns or any others. But there are some that do require it to be listed.
And what about the other short term rental sites out there. I don't know of any that require showing proof.
 
Copperhead said:
undersea said:
"AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed"
Yes - that is the problem with this and other similar web businesses. They hide behind the concept that they just provide the medium for transactions, and that they are "not responsible" for what transpires.
That is also a business owner's nightmare with Yelp and other review sites. Anonymous reviewers (and competitors) can say whatever they want about a business, partially true or not, and it is very difficult to get it removed..
Click to expand...
undersea said:
"AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed"
Click to expand...
In this way Air is no different than many of the other directory sites out there. I do not recall being asked for my bus. license when I signed up for B&B dot com, I
heart.gif
inns or any others. But there are some that do require it to be listed.
And what about the other short term rental sites out there. I don't know of any that require showing proof.
.
Click to expand...
However, those B&B sites are not largely those trying to fly under the radar. Would be interesting to see what % of AirBnB listings comply with zoning/code/taxes. 5%? Wild guess of course.
There is a website that resembles craigslist, which is a hotbed for sex trafficking of victims. Craigslist has a few problems; that one has a ton of problems. Cannot remember the name of that site, for the life of me...
 
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
I think there is nothing wrong with AirBnB listing rentals.
However, they and other sharing services Uber, etc., grew on the concept of causing private citizens to provide services in obvious violations of code and zoning and tax laws. And AirBnb/Uber/etc. looked the other way.
Then these sharing services complained that municipalities should change the laws. And municipalities mostly did not enforce the laws much, except for NYC and a few others. And of course, prospective/current innkeepers had to jump through all the expensive fire, safety, food, noise, parking code and zoning things.
Years ago, I had a roofing company. I paid overtime, had insurance, got permits, offered legitimate service and warranties, etc. etc. And it wound up I couldn't keep up with all the "jacklegs" - 2 men and a truck types, who did none of that. The maddening thing was, is why weren't the code enforcement people going after them with a vengeance? It essentially put legit companies out of business, because you couldn't compete on price.
So IMHO, the real problem is the municipal zoning/code/tax enforcement authorities. If they had enforced the law properly and went after everyone jumping into the illegal listing businesses, this would not have happened.
How long does it take for a town to download the 70 active listings, and postal mail a cease and desist order? This would have stopped almost immediately..
Click to expand...
1. AirBnB being for private citizens is BS. In fact, about 40% of their bookings are taken by people essentially running illegal hotels (ie multiple properties). In the case of Uber, it's in court dealing with the fact that it's an attempt to not provide things like healthcare.
2. In some places, AirBnB is a tax evasion scheme because AirBnB refuses to collect and pay the sales taxes, submit income statements, etc. In my jurisdiction, we are all required to register, have an independent inspection, insurance, etc. AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed.
3. AirBnB actively seeks to prevent authorities from doing their job. They hide the names, addresses and other information from authorities and try to use the courts to prevent authorities from doing their jobs.
4. AirBnB increases rents and decreases the availability of affordable apartments. In the case of NYC people have been caught many times using apartments that are rent controlled for AirBnB, essentially accepting the equivalent of government subsidy and then rerenting for thousands a month more.
.
Click to expand...
"AirBnB increases rents and decreases the availability of affordable apartments."
We purchased a house in a nearby city. the ground floor is a month to month rental. We intend to keep it that way. The upper floor is a studio apartment where I can stay in case of inclement weather (I work in this city and snow has made it impossible to drive to work a few days most winters). I will probably stay there just a few nights per year (fewer than 14 for sure), so for the majority of the year, we will list it on Air. It is a short distance to a riverwalk and downtown restaurants and such. The bad weather and tourist seasons are completely different, so we hope this will be a good move, if not, it can also become a month to month rental. We planned this when the renovation was done. Both units have off-street parking (2 spaces for the month to month, 1 for the short term). This is not even a requirement for rentals in this city, but we feel it should be.
So we are a small part of the trend. We have even thought of setting aside one of our units in the multiplex (in a different nearby city) for Air guests, but the 'plex in not in a tourist part of town, it would have to be furnished and fit out for a nightly rental, and the existing residents would have to be OK with it, so its a way back-burner possibility. This urban area of approx 40 thousand has 1 Air room listed at $165 per night. yes, one, and the city is traditionally a mill, manufacturing and port type city. There are few B&Bs, but many motels from mom-n-pop to Red Lion and Holiday Inn.
 
Anon Inn said:
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
I think there is nothing wrong with AirBnB listing rentals.
However, they and other sharing services Uber, etc., grew on the concept of causing private citizens to provide services in obvious violations of code and zoning and tax laws. And AirBnb/Uber/etc. looked the other way.
Then these sharing services complained that municipalities should change the laws. And municipalities mostly did not enforce the laws much, except for NYC and a few others. And of course, prospective/current innkeepers had to jump through all the expensive fire, safety, food, noise, parking code and zoning things.
Years ago, I had a roofing company. I paid overtime, had insurance, got permits, offered legitimate service and warranties, etc. etc. And it wound up I couldn't keep up with all the "jacklegs" - 2 men and a truck types, who did none of that. The maddening thing was, is why weren't the code enforcement people going after them with a vengeance? It essentially put legit companies out of business, because you couldn't compete on price.
So IMHO, the real problem is the municipal zoning/code/tax enforcement authorities. If they had enforced the law properly and went after everyone jumping into the illegal listing businesses, this would not have happened.
How long does it take for a town to download the 70 active listings, and postal mail a cease and desist order? This would have stopped almost immediately..
Click to expand...
1. AirBnB being for private citizens is BS. In fact, about 40% of their bookings are taken by people essentially running illegal hotels (ie multiple properties). In the case of Uber, it's in court dealing with the fact that it's an attempt to not provide things like healthcare.
2. In some places, AirBnB is a tax evasion scheme because AirBnB refuses to collect and pay the sales taxes, submit income statements, etc. In my jurisdiction, we are all required to register, have an independent inspection, insurance, etc. AirBnB refuses to check that people are legally listed.
3. AirBnB actively seeks to prevent authorities from doing their job. They hide the names, addresses and other information from authorities and try to use the courts to prevent authorities from doing their jobs.
4. AirBnB increases rents and decreases the availability of affordable apartments. In the case of NYC people have been caught many times using apartments that are rent controlled for AirBnB, essentially accepting the equivalent of government subsidy and then rerenting for thousands a month more.
.
Click to expand...
"AirBnB increases rents and decreases the availability of affordable apartments."
We purchased a house in a nearby city. the ground floor is a month to month rental. We intend to keep it that way. The upper floor is a studio apartment where I can stay in case of inclement weather (I work in this city and snow has made it impossible to drive to work a few days most winters). I will probably stay there just a few nights per year (fewer than 14 for sure), so for the majority of the year, we will list it on Air. It is a short distance to a riverwalk and downtown restaurants and such. The bad weather and tourist seasons are completely different, so we hope this will be a good move, if not, it can also become a month to month rental. We planned this when the renovation was done. Both units have off-street parking (2 spaces for the month to month, 1 for the short term). This is not even a requirement for rentals in this city, but we feel it should be.
So we are a small part of the trend. We have even thought of setting aside one of our units in the multiplex (in a different nearby city) for Air guests, but the 'plex in not in a tourist part of town, it would have to be furnished and fit out for a nightly rental, and the existing residents would have to be OK with it, so its a way back-burner possibility. This urban area of approx 40 thousand has 1 Air room listed at $165 per night. yes, one, and the city is traditionally a mill, manufacturing and port type city. There are few B&Bs, but many motels from mom-n-pop to Red Lion and Holiday Inn.
.
Click to expand...
In major cities, like my own, vacancy for apartments is under 3%. In fact, in my city it is about 1%. And we have rent control, so basically it's so hard to find an apartment and here are people taking an apartment under rent control off the market and instead making money under the table and not declaring it.
 
Perhaps this should have been entitled "Errant B&Bs" (but I thought I was being clever) because this article points out much that is missing in the regulations and tax evasion of Air-rant BBs, and the huge impact that they have on legit conforming B&Bs, who also don't have the marketing resources to compete. I say Bravo to the Innkeepers in this state that dared to shout out and take a stand to force new legislation that may hopefully be enforced to protect guests as well.
 
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
 
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
Perhaps this is what it will take to get folks to listen. "Hey, where did all the money go we were getting from licences?"
 
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
 
Silverspoon said:
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
.
Click to expand...
that is brilliant - silverspoon. As a vacation area, this place is crawling with illegal vacation rentals - what is the point of getting $125 B&B room, when you can rent a 5 BR house for the same price...
And not sure how someone could go after 200 listings, when they don't include the address in their listings...
Don't mind competition, but what is the point of doing the zoning, code, safety and taxes, if it makes you uncompetitive?
 
undersea said:
Silverspoon said:
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
.
Click to expand...
that is brilliant - silverspoon. As a vacation area, this place is crawling with illegal vacation rentals - what is the point of getting $125 B&B room, when you can rent a 5 BR house for the same price...
And not sure how someone could go after 200 listings, when they don't include the address in their listings...
Don't mind competition, but what is the point of doing the zoning, code, safety and taxes, if it makes you uncompetitive?
.
Click to expand...
I can't wait to see what happens when people start to sue people for liability. All those people without liability insurance policies...
 
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
Silverspoon said:
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
.
Click to expand...
that is brilliant - silverspoon. As a vacation area, this place is crawling with illegal vacation rentals - what is the point of getting $125 B&B room, when you can rent a 5 BR house for the same price...
And not sure how someone could go after 200 listings, when they don't include the address in their listings...
Don't mind competition, but what is the point of doing the zoning, code, safety and taxes, if it makes you uncompetitive?
.
Click to expand...
I can't wait to see what happens when people start to sue people for liability. All those people without liability insurance policies...
.
Click to expand...
and somehow thinking their homeowners policy covers it?
 
undersea said:
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
Silverspoon said:
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
Click to expand...
Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
.
Click to expand...
I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
.
Click to expand...
that is brilliant - silverspoon. As a vacation area, this place is crawling with illegal vacation rentals - what is the point of getting $125 B&B room, when you can rent a 5 BR house for the same price...
And not sure how someone could go after 200 listings, when they don't include the address in their listings...
Don't mind competition, but what is the point of doing the zoning, code, safety and taxes, if it makes you uncompetitive?
.
Click to expand...
I can't wait to see what happens when people start to sue people for liability. All those people without liability insurance policies...
.
Click to expand...
and somehow thinking their homeowners policy covers it?
.
Click to expand...
Worse, their homeowner's policy specifically excludes this.
 
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
Jon Sable said:
undersea said:
Silverspoon said:
Flower said:
charlie may said:
airbnb's mandate is to advertise for its members. Period. Many other marketing businesses have the same mandate. Tourism, bbcanada, etc. The difference is that the company's name and address and phone number are listed in the marketing. Not with airbnb, uber, the dog sitting ones. The under ground run business refuse to give out the members name and addresses to the powers that be. The powers that are suppose to enforce the by-laws either don't want to or do not have the mandate to do so. I did ask our city licensing department what would happen if the licensed bed and breakfasts decided not to renew their license every year and continued to operate. Nothing would be done unless there was a complaint by a guest. Same with the health department. Some of our legal b and b's are advertising with airbnb. They do supply their name and address and stress the point that they are licensed and health and fire inspected. Many of the millions of folks that use airbnb are probably paying just as much for the stay as there is a charge to the guest for using airbnb and also the businesses often charge for the second person, and a cleaning fee. It all adds up when the bill comes on their charge card..
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Well CM I did that just thing this year I refuse to buy my license this year. I told them until they go after air and make them pay the same as all our B&Bs do and have the yearly fire inspection. I flatly refuse to buy a license. So time will tell what they will do...
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I did not do that but I did get a list of legal rental licenses for short term rentals in our town from the town clerk. I then researched each air listing, found their location, compared it to the town data base with pictures and first names and provided a list of 14 properties that were operating rentals without a license.
I submitted it to the town clerk and this was the reply:We do like to contact people who are renting and may not be aware that rental permits are required. You may send me the info. I do not need pictures. Just the owners names and property location. Thank you."
We will see!
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that is brilliant - silverspoon. As a vacation area, this place is crawling with illegal vacation rentals - what is the point of getting $125 B&B room, when you can rent a 5 BR house for the same price...
And not sure how someone could go after 200 listings, when they don't include the address in their listings...
Don't mind competition, but what is the point of doing the zoning, code, safety and taxes, if it makes you uncompetitive?
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I can't wait to see what happens when people start to sue people for liability. All those people without liability insurance policies...
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and somehow thinking their homeowners policy covers it?
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Worse, their homeowner's policy specifically excludes this.
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Likely. But I suspect they are unaware of this, until served with a lawsuit, make a call to their Good Hands people and...
 
I am curious? What is the average cost for the business license every year.? Here it is $75 per year. I think that is reasonable. Comments?
 

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