Adamantly Opposes Short-Term Rentals

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Editor,

There have been many arguments trying to rationalize the need for these rentals by saying that: They are less expensive alternatives to hotels. They are, but to the detriment of the licensed hotels and restaurants in Laguna Beach. They will bring in more tourists. The beaches and the active community of Laguna Beach bring in a sufficient number of tourists already. And, that if people cannot rent out their home they will lose their home. Maybe in a very rare situation but as of today I only see one home in Laguna Beach that is in a “pre-foreclosure” listing – homeowners in Laguna Beach don’t “lose” their home, typically they sell it for a very nice profit if they cannot afford to keep it.

Short-term rentals create a different culture in a community. Each weekly renter arrives to have their time in the sun and leave all of their cares, concerns, and responsibilities behind them until they return to their own communities. They have little concern about common courtesies that might be offensive to their “real” neighbors because they are on vacation! They won’t have to speak to us or see us or worry about their behavior after their vacation is over. That’s up to the property owner and their only concern is getting their money and if necessary, placating their neighbors to avoid complaints

The only beneficiaries of short-term rentals are the guests who get inexpensive lodging and the property owners, who do not even live in their neighborhood. Parking issues increase, noise levels increase, but the good news is that to balance that out, surrounding property values decrease.

If any potential short-term rental property owners question my statements, I ask you to answer this question. What benefit does your short term rental bring to your neighbors and the neighborhood? None!

When my wife and I bought our property in Laguna Beach, we choose to live in a single family residential neighborhood, so that we would not be confronted with the issue of vacation rentals. We believed that the R1 Zoning, which specifically forbids rentals of less than 30 days would protect us from having our neighborhood changed by allowing party rentals.

Hopefully our City Council will follow the recommendations of the Planning Department and the listen to the vast community voice against short term rentals and do what they were elected to do – protect the neighborhoods.

 

John Virball, Laguna Beach

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9 COMMENTS

  1. The California Coastal Act, approved by voters in 1976, is tasked with protection of coastal resources, including shoreline public access and recreation, lower cost visitor accommodations, terrestrial and marine habitat protection, visual resources, landform alteration, agricultural lands, commercial fisheries, industrial uses, water quality, offshore oil and gas development, transportation, development design, power plants, ports, and public works (http://www.coastal.ca.gov/whoweare.html). The California Coastal Commission is to see that local governments adhere with act and it’s overall objectives. The California Coastal Commission has repeatedly come out favorably supportive of short term rentals. They know the value they bring to communities and to people seeking access to some of the finest beach communities in the world.

    Responsible managers of STRs go to extremes to screen clients. The platforms of a shared economy review one another, ensuring better guest and host experiences. A good host will do their best to see visitors to their neighborhood best fit the neighborhood. Perhaps sometimes, a little diversity might be advantageous as well. Imagine the value of visitors that can share part of their culture with you, all while wanting to know more of your own. Whether from Biloxi or Bangladesh, it is not Laguna Beach. A good host will make sure you, or anyone neighboring a short term rental, has a number to call 24/7 should a problem arise before calling the police.

    You are most fortunate to call Laguna Beach home. It was one of my first loves and fondest, to this day, places in California. While you’ve earned your right to live it every day, you hopefully won’t think you should keep others from at least tasting the same experience.

  2. Responsibly managed Vacation Rental Homes, clearly, have been embraced the world over by a new generation of thinkers,. No one should be bothered by a party house after a reasonable hour, and I do believe there are administrative remedies for those situations, whether a full time resident or a part-time residence is causing the problem Vacation destinations have always had a healthy Vacation Rental market and with the advent of a tech savvy population even more so. The trick is to prime it so it works, not ban it . I do believe the term losing one’s home can include somebody who sells or is forced to sell their home, not just have it in foreclosure. We are still digging ourselves out of a very bad economic situations since 2008, and there is another on the horizon. Americans are creative, and both traveler and host have embraced these platforms… Let’s tax them, make them responsible, enforce sound violations …. There is truly enough business for the hotels and the homeowners. As the middle classes in the world increase there will be more and more travelers…..

  3. In response to Robert StGenis, who is a paid director of the Los Angeles Short Term Rental Alliance, I’m sorry but you don’t live in my neighborhood, you don’t live in Laguna Beach, you have no dog in this fight, therefore your opinion should have no impact on this discussion. I have lived in villages in France, on islands in the Caribbean and in Key West, Florida where short term rentals have caused numerous inconveniences for long term residents. Your inference that renters will share their “culture”, is fantasy – an attempt by you to minimize the negative impact of a constant rotation of guests. You constantly mention what “good” hosts will or should do. “Good” is a subjective term that cannot be legislated. The reality is that money talks and if the guest will pay the freight, a “good” host accepts the rental and will only be concerned about protecting their own interests by requiring a security deposit to cover any damages to their property. Impact on the neighborhood be damned. Again – please answer my single question – what benefit will your short term rental guest provide to your neighbors or the neighborhood. I’m waiting.

  4. John,
    Good argumentvagainstvshoer term rentals. As a long time real estate broker and property manager, as well as having owned 10 homes oft own, I can guarantee short term rentals cause unimaginable problems by tenants, and are typically owned by owners in financial difficulty and with little or no regard for their neighbors. And are likely to be non-owner occupied which increases the disconcern for others and further depresses surrounding values.

    If there is anything I can do to assist your cause, feel free to email me at [email protected].

  5. The writer states that

    “Short-term rentals create a different culture in a community. Each weekly renter arrives to have their time in the sun and leave all of their cares, concerns, and responsibilities behind them until they return to their own communities. They have little concern about common courtesies that might be offensive to their “real” neighbors because they are on vacation! They won’t have to speak to us or see us or worry about their behavior after their vacation is over. That’s up to the property owner and their only concern is getting their money and if necessary, placating their neighbors to avoid complaints”

    Is that how HE BEHAVES on vacation? It certainly isn’t how I behave on vacation, mindful of the community and country I am visiting. I am a short term rental host in Los Angeles. I live in the same house my guests stay in. I have been deeply impressed with the respect and kindness of the people who come into my home, from all over the world. It amazes me how we all know how to share space together despite huge language and cultural differences.

    Short term rentals indeed have kept me in my home. Having to sell one’s home because one cannot afford it, is indeed preventing the loss of one’s home. IT is no small measure to lose one’s home, either to foreclosure or to inaffordability and having to sell one’s home. This distinction by the writer is facile.

    My community benefits from short term rentals. Guests staying in a community support the small businesses of that community, decrease parking problems (as tourists have fewer cars per person than residents), create jobs (because home sharing is work!), maintain housing stability among other benefits.

    • Emma. My wife and I have travelled extensively. We have stayed in hotels, B and B’s and private rental homes. We behave well and are courteous, aware of our surroundings and the cultures of the countries that we are visiting. We have also lived in countries where we have had short term rentals next to us and have had to live with disturbances that impacted upon our enjoyment of our own properties. We have sold properties because of short term rentals.
      I have no doubt that you have guests that are sympathetic to your neighbors and neighborhood. You are obviously one of the”good” hosts. However there is no guaranty that all hosts will be like you and because of this, I rely on Laguna Beach’s zoning regulations and our city councils enforcing of these zoning regulations to protect my rights, my peace and quiet and my property values. I live in an R1 zone that does not allow for short term rentals. Short term rentals are allowed in the commercial zones. That was the understanding when I purchased my property and that is the condition that I expect.
      You mention that your community benefits from short term rental. I’m happy for you, but I wonder where is “your community” and if you are not a resident of Laguna Beach, why are you dipping your oar in our waters?

  6. In response to John’s question, “what benefit will your short term rental guest provide to your neighbors or the neighborhood.” Well, what benefit do any renters provide to the neighborhood. It’s perfectly legal to rent out your home for 30+ days at whatever rate you choose. You can also let people stay in it for free! It’s your house. If you rent it for 30 days or fewer, you pay huge taxes to the city that pays for infrastructure that owners and residents benefit from, in terms of their actual use of said infrastructure, and equity appreciation. Tourists spend piles of money too, supporting local businesses, all those little shops and restaurants that make living there so desirable. Short term rentals, properly regulated, are a boon to any area.

    • So your answer is that Short Term Renters provide no benefit. Long term rentals provide an opportunity for people working in Laguna Beach to have a home close to their jobs. Long term rentals are a part of the community. Long term rentals interact with their neighbors. It is perfectly legal to rent your house out for 30 days, and I have no problem with that. 30 days is the law. I can live with it. Why can’t you?
      I also don’t disagree with STR in the commercial zones where they are legally allowed to exist. That’s the law. I would love to see what type of “huge taxes” you pay to the city on your short term rental? It is negligible and it costs the city more to audit your proper payment of taxes then they make. It costs the city more in Code Enforcement to make sure that everything is legal. it costs the city more in law enforcement to handle complaints. Your short term rental is a negative cash flow to the city. And finally, why should your desire to make money impact upon my legal right to live a peaceful, safe life style in my residential neighborhood. Why. because you want to make money on your STR. Again…answer the question. What benefit is your short term rental going to bring to your neighbors or the neighborhood? None!

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