New Proposed D.C. Airbnb Bill

[Anonymous]

DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie recently introduced this bill that greatly limits Airbnb hosts in the DC area from renting out their houses.

McDuffie created this bill WITH the hotel industry. I've heard that he's personally benefiting from the deal.

I rent my house and it keeps me out of foreclosure. Such a shame politics is getting in the way of fat cats trying to make a buck!

Anyone else affected by this bad bill?


http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Introduction.pdf

[Anonymous]

WAMU, JAN 31

New Bill Would Put Strict Limits On Airbnb And Other Home-Sharing Services In D.C.

A bill introduced Tuesday in the City Council would put strict limits on D.C. residents who use Airbnb and other home-sharing services to rent out a room or a full house to visitors, reining in a practice that is increasingly popular and profitable — albeit largely unregulated — across the city.

The bill, introduced by Council member Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), would require that residents who use the services acquire a new business license that would be created for short-term rentals.

It would also limit residents to renting out a single housing unit — whether a room, basement or a full house — and require that they also live on the property, effectively stopping someone from using a second home they do not occupy for short-term rentals. The bill would offer one exception for vacation rentals of full apartments or homes, allowing those to be rented for up to 15 days per year without the owner being present.

For any violation, both the host and the home-sharing service could face steep fines: from $1,000 to $7,000 for violations by the host, and $1,000 for each illegal booking made by the home-sharing service. Half of the proceeds from the fines would be set aside for the Housing Production Trust Fund, which is used to produce and preserve affordable housing.

http://wamu.org/story/17/01/31/new-bill-put-strict-limits-airbnb-home-sharing-services-d-c/

[Anonymous]

How is this in the public interest?

Classic case of politicians confusing the symptom with the cause.

[Anonymous]

What's next? Death to Uber too?

These politicians don't get innovation.

I'm not opposed to regulations, but if you review the proposal (up to $7,000 in fines, hotel-type inspections, etc).

These are homeowners who are opening their houses to others (not like hotel) but often these folks become friends. It's a completely different model.

It's as simple as this... hotels were losing money because of Airbnb. They put lots of money and lobbying behind destroying Airbnb...

Enter Kenyon McDuffie... problem solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's next? Death to Uber too?

These politicians don't get innovation.

I'm not opposed to regulations, but if you review the proposal (up to $7,000 in fines, hotel-type inspections, etc).

These are homeowners who are opening their houses to others (not like hotel) but often these folks become friends. It's a completely different model.

It's as simple as this... hotels were losing money because of Airbnb. They put lots of money and lobbying behind destroying Airbnb...

Enter Kenyon McDuffie... problem solved!

The problem is that 50-70%+ of AirBnB bookings are done via professional managers with multiple properties. The situation you described ("opening their houses to others (not like hotel) but often these folks become friends...") is very much in the minority.

The city council has an obligation to the voters to ensure that there is a healthy supply of real estate for full time, tax paying residents. When landlords start pulling units off the market to peddle them as hotel rooms - without the proper zoning and licensing - they are imposing a negative externality on their neighbors and the rest of the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie recently introduced this bill that greatly limits Airbnb hosts in the DC area from renting out their houses.

McDuffie created this bill WITH the hotel industry. I've heard that he's personally benefiting from the deal.

I rent my house and it keeps me out of foreclosure. Such a shame politics is getting in the way of fat cats trying to make a buck!

Anyone else affected by this bad bill?

http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Introduction.pdf

You need to rent through AirBnB to keep your house out of foreclosure? Because the market for traditional renters with regular leases is very good.

[Anonymous]

I like that they make the people live there. Too often in my neighborhood people are Air BNBing their entire house and the people renting are loud, obnoxious and leave trash everywhere. It's a big issue here. My neighbors live next door to one and they are moving because they can't cope with it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You need to rent through AirBnB to keep your house out of foreclosure? Because the market for traditional renters with regular leases is very good.

Yes. I live in an area with 1,000+ apartment rentals and no hotels. It is very competitive for someone to rent in my DC neighborhood. Airbnb offers 50%+ more in income. Due to health issues this extra income is important.

Not only that, but I offer a great service - not just to travelers from other parts of the world - but many of my renters are moving to DC and need to place to stay while looking for housing. A hotel doesn't suit most of my clients.

Little guys like me get crushed with regulations like these. I get that they are trying to crack down on commercial clients, but they didn't put in any protections for regular folks like me.

[Anonymous]

If you want to rent your home then by all means do so after complying with the law by obtaining a basic business license and reporting your income. At minimum, all units should be subject to inspection for compliance with fire and other building code requirements.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course, I have a business license. I currently rent my basement. I won't be able to under new bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, of course, I have a business license. I currently rent my basement. I won't be able to under new bill.

Why? Unless the property isn't your residence I don't see what's so terribly onerous.

[Anonymous]

Yes it's my residence. The bill was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember McDuffie). They are trying to close down Airbnb in Washington, DC.

Have you read the bill? You can only host 15 days a year while being away and are fined up to $7,000 if you break the very cumbersome rules (e.g. outrageous "hotel-type) inspections that shouldn't be imposed on individuals).

I have multiple rooms in my home that I rent. Under this bill, I can only rent one (whether I am home or not.

Many of my guests who have come for work or were moving to DC and looking for a "community" (not hotel-like) experience stayed with me between 15-30 days. The new bill prevents these stays.

And my mother is sick and lives out of town. Last year, I would go out of town to visit/help her during stays were folks were repeat visitors and have become friends. One woman who was in town on business stayed with me three times. On the third time, I felt very comfortable being gone from the house and she did too. Also not possible with bill.

The bill is far too restrictive. It's intent is to shut down Airbnb. Like I said, it was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember) McDuffie. They don't care about the everyday person looking to Airbnb, just protecting their profits.

Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's my residence. The bill was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember McDuffie). They are trying to close down Airbnb in Washington, DC.

Have you read the bill? You can only host 15 days a year while being away and are fined up to $7,000 if you break the very cumbersome rules (e.g. outrageous "hotel-type) inspections that shouldn't be imposed on individuals).

I have multiple rooms in my home that I rent. Under this bill, I can only rent one (whether I am home or not.

Many of my guests who have come for work or were moving to DC and looking for a "community" (not hotel-like) experience stayed with me between 15-30 days. The new bill prevents these stays.

And my mother is sick and lives out of town. Last year, I would go out of town to visit/help her during stays were folks were repeat visitors and have become friends. One woman who was in town on business stayed with me three times. On the third time, I felt very comfortable being gone from the house and she did too. Also not possible with bill.

The bill is far too restrictive. It's intent is to shut down Airbnb. Like I said, it was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember) McDuffie. They don't care about the everyday person looking to Airbnb, just protecting their profits.

Very sad.

You're running a boarding house. Get legit and stop griping. DC actually has a "boarding house" license for the very thing you're doing. You're lucky you haven't already been slapped with a fine. This is why we have zoning...why are you so special that you get flout zoning laws with a commercial business on a residential plat?

How do your neighbors feel about you running a boarding next door to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes it's my residence. The bill was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember McDuffie). They are trying to close down Airbnb in Washington, DC.

Have you read the bill? You can only host 15 days a year while being away and are fined up to $7,000 if you break the very cumbersome rules (e.g. outrageous "hotel-type) inspections that shouldn't be imposed on individuals).

I have multiple rooms in my home that I rent. Under this bill, I can only rent one (whether I am home or not.

Many of my guests who have come for work or were moving to DC and looking for a "community" (not hotel-like) experience stayed with me between 15-30 days. The new bill prevents these stays.

And my mother is sick and lives out of town. Last year, I would go out of town to visit/help her during stays were folks were repeat visitors and have become friends. One woman who was in town on business stayed with me three times. On the third time, I felt very comfortable being gone from the house and she did too. Also not possible with bill.

The bill is far too restrictive. It's intent is to shut down Airbnb. Like I said, it was created by the Hotel industry (and Councilmember) McDuffie. They don't care about the everyday person looking to Airbnb, just protecting their profits.

Very sad.

You're running a boarding house. Get legit and stop griping. DC actually has a "boarding house" license for the very thing you're doing. You're lucky you haven't already been slapped with a fine. This is why we have zoning...why are you so special that you get flout zoning laws with a commercial business on a residential plat?

How do your neighbors feel about you running a boarding next door to them?

Ha! You've never heard of homesharing I see. No, it's not boarding. Homesharing is common around the world and brings millions of dollars to local economies. Airbnb has brought millions to the city in taxes (100 million is last stat I saw). All of my guests pay a 14.5% occupancy tax.

Arlington Va just passed a homesharing law the allows the host to rent for 185 days in comparison to DC's 15 days.

Arlington wants the loads of money homesharing brings in but apparently DC doesn't need it.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors are my primary clients. Their families stay in our extra rooms all the time and especially during the holidays.