4 ms·

“Short term rentals” are just hotels, and should be taxed and regulated as such, including protection against BS charges and the like, zoning requirements, etc.

by olliej 3y ago

“Short term rentals” are just hotels, and should be taxed and regulated as such, including protection against BS charges and the like, zoning requirements, etc. Put some reasonable limit - say 10 days a year - after which you get to register as a hotel, motel, or rental property and comply with the relevant regulations and taxes.

thechao 3y ago
The "reasonable limit" is 0 days per year.
- olliej 3y ago
  Personally I would agree, but it's not uncommon for people to let friends/family stay at their house and contribute to expenses and rent etc, and I'm not sure how you could make a law that allowed that without airbnb changing all their marketing to "meet new friends" or similar BS to try and violate the law while claiming they think it's "legitimate".
arealaccount 3y ago
What if it's an owner occupied house. Renting out a converted garage or something. Does that pass the "not a hotel" test?
- HWR_14 3y ago
  Of course that doesn't pass the "not a hotel" test. If you are consistently renting out the garage as a short term rental you should be paying hotel taxes, abiding by hotel regulations, etc. Just like if you lived in the penthouse of a 500-room hotel and rented out all the other rooms.
- olliej 3y ago
  .. you're renting out part of your property, it is either a hotel/motel, or it is a rental arrangement. Either the occupants should be protected by tenancy laws, e.g. you don't get to evict them, you must do all the stuff that comes with being a landlord/lady and ensure the space conforms to the legal requirements for such. Or it's a hotel/motel, in which case the same applies, but for the hotel/motel regulations. You can't do what airbnb hosts do which is to pick and choose what laws apply based on convenience to them. If you have paying occupants of your property there are only two options: hotel guest (e.g. you're subject to hotel regulations) or they're a tenant, there is no such thing as a quantum occupant. Also if you are basing your rental/hotel fees on market price, you should obviously being paying taxes (property and income) based on those market values. Why would you not be?

by olliej 3y ago

thechao 3y ago

The "reasonable limit" is 0 days per year.

olliej 3y ago
Personally I would agree, but it's not uncommon for people to let friends/family stay at their house and contribute to expenses and rent etc, and I'm not sure how you could make a law that allowed that without airbnb changing all their marketing to "meet new friends" or similar BS to try and violate the law while claiming they think it's "legitimate".

arealaccount 3y ago

What if it's an owner occupied house. Renting out a converted garage or something. Does that pass the "not a hotel" test?

HWR_14 3y ago
Of course that doesn't pass the "not a hotel" test. If you are consistently renting out the garage as a short term rental you should be paying hotel taxes, abiding by hotel regulations, etc. Just like if you lived in the penthouse of a 500-room hotel and rented out all the other rooms.
olliej 3y ago
.. you're renting out part of your property, it is either a hotel/motel, or it is a rental arrangement. Either the occupants should be protected by tenancy laws, e.g. you don't get to evict them, you must do all the stuff that comes with being a landlord/lady and ensure the space conforms to the legal requirements for such. Or it's a hotel/motel, in which case the same applies, but for the hotel/motel regulations. You can't do what airbnb hosts do which is to pick and choose what laws apply based on convenience to them. If you have paying occupants of your property there are only two options: hotel guest (e.g. you're subject to hotel regulations) or they're a tenant, there is no such thing as a quantum occupant. Also if you are basing your rental/hotel fees on market price, you should obviously being paying taxes (property and income) based on those market values. Why would you not be?