Curbed DC - Airbnb, short-term rental D.C. newsLove where you live2019-09-13T11:34:41-04:00http://dc.curbed.com/rss/stream/178640952019-09-13T11:34:41-04:002019-09-13T11:34:41-04:00Record number of people stayed at D.C. Airbnbs between Memorial Day and Labor Day
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<img alt="An illustration of Airbnbs logo in multiple colors on a red background." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bJbeeWxd8JPhpwuBvcCEOaolsxw=/417x0:3084x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65239886/AirBnb_Opt2_Colorway1.0.jp.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alyssa Nassner</figcaption>
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<p>Locals made the most bookings through the platform, Airbnb says</p> <p id="h3dVLc">This summer has been quite a busy one for Airbnb hosts and guests in Washington. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 175,700 Airbnb users booked stays in D.C. using the platform, according to the San Francisco-based company. It represented the greatest number of guest arrivals, or unique bookings, Airbnb has ever seen in D.C. in the roughly three-month period.</p>
<p id="Z85jAc">The activity produced $37.7 million in income for local hosts, the company says. Most of the bookers were actually from within D.C. themselves, followed by New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Airbnb notes “this demonstrates the popularity of Airbnb among Washington, D.C. residents looking to explore other parts of their own City,” but it’s possible that many of these bookings were reserved by residents on behalf of their family and friends.</p>
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<p id="KVyoOc">As of July, more than 601,000 D.C. residents had used Airbnb to travel over the past year, the company points out in a release. The numbers come more than half a year after <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/11/15/18095658/dc-airbnb-regulations-short-term-rentals-council">District lawmakers unanimously approved</a> restrictions on short-term rentals, including prohibiting second homes from being rented out on a short-term basis and capping the total number of days a host may rent out their primary residence while the host is not on site to 90 per year. Mayor Muriel Bowser <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2019/1/18/18188751/dc-airbnb-short-term-rentals-bowser-council">declined to sign the legislation</a>, saying the restrictions were too strict.</p>
<aside id="14ZUF5"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"D.C. registers record visitation in 2018 despite drop in international visitors","url":"https://dc.curbed.com/2019/8/27/20835537/dc-tourism-numbers-domestic-international-visitors-china"}]}'></div></aside><p id="lOvnp3">“As we mark yet another historic summer -- and look ahead to the continuing fight for clarity and a fair regulatory framework for our community -- we hope that we can find ways to work with City government to ensure short-term rentals can continue to play a strong role in every corner of the Washington, D.C. economy,” says Kelley Gossett, Airbnb’s Mid-Atlantic public policy chief, in a statement. A D.C. Zoning Commission hearing about the short-term rental regulations, which are set to go into effect October 1, is <a href="https://app.dcoz.dc.gov/Content/Schedule/ViewDocument.aspx?attachName=Exhibit9&exhibitId=182362%20&case_id=19-15">scheduled</a> for October 17. The city’s Office of Planning recently released a <a href="https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/op-guidance-hints-at-allowing-second-short-term-rentals/15831">report</a> on the regulations and associated zoning rules.</p>
<p id="qlI3ij">D.C. welcomed a <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2019/8/27/20835537/dc-tourism-numbers-domestic-international-visitors-china">record 23.8 million visitors in 2018</a>, city tourism officials announced last month. Of those visitors, <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2019/5/17/18629678/dc-tourism-domestic-visitors-record-monuments-memorials">21.9 million</a> were from the U.S., a 5.2 percent increase over 2017.</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2019/9/13/20864256/dc-airbnb-rentals-memorial-day-labor-dayAndrew Giambrone2019-01-18T17:39:12-05:002019-01-18T17:39:12-05:00D.C. mayor declines to sign unanimously approved bill regulating Airbnb activity
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<figcaption>Alyssa Nassner</figcaption>
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<p>According to Mayor Muriel Bowser, the bill is overly restrictive and may be challenged in court</p> <p id="QmoSVL">In a signal of her disapproval, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has opted to leave unsigned a bill that prohibits homeowners from renting out, on a short-term basis, homes other than their primary residences. The legislation, which the D.C. Council unanimously <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/11/15/18095658/dc-airbnb-regulations-short-term-rentals-council">green-lighted</a> last November, also limits the total number of days per year that homeowners may rent out their primary residences when they are absent (for so-called “vacation stays”), to 90 in most cases.</p>
<p id="CNCYF0">The bill is poised to become law after a 30-day congressional review period required for D.C. legislation and represents the first time the District has sought to comprehensively regulate short-term rental units, often marketed on digital booking platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway. But in a <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Letter-from-Mayor-on-returning-measure-unsigned3.pdf">memo</a> to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson this week, Bowser says the measure “could have struck a better balance” between residents being allowed to use Airbnb and its ilk to generate income and concerns that short-term rentals disrupt neighborhoods, including by constraining the supply of long-term housing and attracting transient visitors.</p>
<p id="tF58pB">Citing advice from D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine’s office and pointing to a “similar bill enacted by New York City” that a federal judge has temporarily <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2019/1/7/18172053/airbnb-nyc-law-regulation-lawsuit-injunction">blocked</a> from taking effect, Bowser also says the District’s legislation “is unlikely to survive a potential legal challenge.” “The mandatory [data] reporting requirements in [the] bill mirror those in the New York City bill and would likely fail to pass constitutional muster on the same grounds,” writes Bowser.</p>
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<p id="4imtEc">But supporters of the regulatory effort say the legislation will help D.C. officials crack down on illegal hotels in residential neighborhoods and keep housing prices in check. “Protecting affordable housing options in D.C. is vital to our efforts in ending homelessness and helping low-income families find a stable, affordable home,” says Kelly Sweeney McShane, the CEO of Community of Hope, a nonprofit focused on low-income families’ needs, in a statement. A diverse coalition that included housing activists, civic groups, and hotels favored the policies.</p>
<p id="wI2SCL">Booking platforms, tech and tourism groups, and some homeowners opposed the legislation. In a statement, Airbnb says it hopes “to work with the D.C. Council to address the issues that [Mayor Bowser] highlighted, and provide a true path forward for home-sharing in D.C.” The company also notes that its District hosts earned <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/01/11/d-c-s-airbnb-hosts-took-home-96m-in-2018.html">$96 million</a> by using its platform last year.</p>
<p id="8I3EuY">The final version of the bill features a “hardship exemption” to the annual cap on vacation stays for homeowners who can show officials their jobs or family medical situations force them to be out the District for more than 90 days a year. Also, D.C. zoning commissioners still must update city zoning rules to technically let short-term rentals in residential zones.</p>
https://dc.curbed.com/2019/1/18/18188751/dc-airbnb-short-term-rentals-bowser-councilAndrew Giambrone2018-11-15T11:54:59-05:002018-11-15T11:54:59-05:00D.C. Council gives final approval to Airbnb regulations
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<figcaption>Alyssa Nassner</figcaption>
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<p>Property owners won’t be able to use secondary homes for short-term rentals under the new rules</p> <p id="wRnwpe">D.C. residents who use Airbnb or similar booking services to rent out their homes will likely have to abide by new regulations starting next October, when they are set to go into effect. The policies represent the first time the city has charted comprehensive laws for short-term rental units—an effort that has sparked a <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">fierce debate</a> spanning roughly the past two years.</p>
<p id="l6ofpK">District lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously green-lit rules for short-term rentals, after they had <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/17/17989072/dc-airbnb-vrbo-short-term-rentals-delay">delayed</a> a final vote on the rules last month. The legislation bans property owners from renting out any homes other than their primary residences for fewer than 30 days at a time, commonly done through platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. It also restricts to 90 the total number of days a year that a host may rent out their primary residence when they are away.</p>
<p id="SkgAI9">These provisions—along with new licensing requirements for short-term rental units—were included in the version of the bill that the D.C. Council preliminarily <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928946/airbnb-vrbo-dc-regulations-short-term-rentals">passed</a> in early October. (A Council committee <a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/B22-92-Short-Term-Rentals-Regulation-Packet-1.pdf">estimates</a> that there are currently 9,000 short-term rentals in the city.)</p>
<p id="gOB4WX">But now the legislation also features a “<a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Amendment5.pdf">hardship exemption</a>” to the annual cap on so-called “vacation rentals” for hosts who can demonstrate that their jobs or family medical situations require them to leave the District for more than 90 days a year. Lawmakers who backed the exemption said it will provide flexibility to military members, diplomats, and other residents.</p>
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<p id="w2Ol58">The exemption was approved on a 9-4 vote, over objections by the bill’s main authors that it would make the law harder to enforce. “There’s a sympathy when you talk about when the host is deployed because of business or the host has a serious health condition, but I think this is a recipe for mischief,” said D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. “This will be a giant loophole.” Under the bill, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) would grant short-term rental licenses, track the units, and issue civil fines for illegal ones.</p>
<p id="T8euMv">Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen led the charge to include the exemption. He said the potential for abuse was low because homeowners seeking flexibility from the law would be required to submit notarizations from their employers or family medical providers to DCRA. (Self-employed homeowners would have to file signed affidavits.) If granted the exemption, homeowners could then host short-term rentals for however many days they must be gone.</p>
<p id="MOCMEZ">“[It’s] a big difference than just send[ing] an email saying ‘I’m out of town,’” Allen responded when asked by Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">introduced</a> the original bill in January 2017, about self-employed residents. At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman said the exemption process had sufficient “guardrails” in place to render the amendment narrow.</p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="Ykx4qO"><q>“This will be a giant loophole.”</q></aside></div>
<p id="DFPEyk">At Allen’s suggestion, the Council also tweaked the legislation to bar vacation-rental guests from using annual visitor-parking permits. Residents have <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/DC-Council-Members-Want-Action-on-Visitor-Parking-Permit-Abuse-485446981.html">complained</a> that the permits are being used for commercial activity instead of personal guests, thus taking up parking spots.</p>
<p id="dr6kk3">The measure now heads to Mayor Muriel Bowser for review. Bowser’s office has previously <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">said</a> she wants to ensure that in regulating short-term rental units, officials do not lock out residents from “emerging and profitable markets.” But the Council could override any veto.</p>
<p id="m3YmzF">Homeowners would be allowed to rent out entire properties as well as carriage houses and basement units under the new rules. Still, because the current zoning code prohibits short-term rentals in residential zones—at least on paper—the District’s Chief Financial Officer has <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Revised-Fiscal-Impact-Statement---10-15-182.pdf">estimated</a> that the bill will cost more than $20 million a year in lost tax revenue. That guess is based on the assumption that the current zoning statutes would actually be enforced once the bill becomes law. The D.C. Zoning Commission has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-government-to-propose-zoning-changes-to-permit-airbnbs-in-residential-neighborhoods/2018/10/30/c2e160ae-dbbd-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html">said</a> it will update its code to align with the Council’s action and permit short-term rentals where they are banned as of today.</p>
<p id="X07vUm">In a highly technical maneuver, Mendelson, the Council chairman, has proposed funding the new regulations with future budget appropriations and projected excess tax revenue. They will not take effect until Oct. 1, 2019, the beginning of the next fiscal year. “This will provide time for District residents who currently operate short-term rentals to shift the propert[ies] to another use,” Mendelson said on Tuesday. He said he was hopeful about the zoning issue.</p>
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<cite>D.C. government</cite>
<figcaption>The D.C. Chief Financial Officer’s fiscal analysis of the pending Airbnb regulations, issued on Oct. 15, 2018</figcaption>
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<p id="EPUyFf">Short-term rental companies blasted the Council’s approval of the measure. In a statement, Airbnb called the vote “reckless,” saying it was “the latest example of the misleading tactics used to pass fiscally irresponsible home sharing policy.” “We remain committed to ensuring home sharing is protected in our nation’s capital,” the company said, mentioning the 6,500 hosts who use its platform in D.C. They will collectively lose $64 million a year, said Airbnb.</p>
<p id="8amM8L">Similarly, HomeAway, which is part of the same company as VRBO, said the bill “will harm thousands of local residents and small businesses as well as countless families looking to visit” D.C. “[We] will be exploring all of our options in light of today’s vote,” the firm noted.</p>
<p id="M1AoKf">But members of the “It’s Time D.C.” coalition, a group that supports tighter regulations on short-term rental units, hailed the news. Graylin Presbury, a coalition member who is also the president of the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, called the bill a “common-sense ordinance that protects true home sharing, while cracking down on commercial investors buying up residential homes to rent on Airbnb.” The latter has led to higher rents, he said.</p>
<p id="lq8gD8">In the Council chambers on Tuesday, audience members from Unite Here Local 25, a hotel-workers union, clapped and cheered after the proposal was approved. John Boardman, the executive secretary-treasurer for the group, went up to the dais to shake Mendelson’s hand. The chairman obliged before politely shooing Boardman away and moving on to other bills.</p>
<ul>
<li id="uVQLtw">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">As vote nears, coalitions war over proposed rules for short-term rentals in D.C.</a><strong> </strong>[Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="Jpebcx">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/17/17989072/dc-airbnb-vrbo-short-term-rentals-delay">D.C. legislators delay final vote on Airbnb rules due to concerns about cost, zoning</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="EwaVA1">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928946/airbnb-vrbo-dc-regulations-short-term-rentals">D.C. approves regulations on short-term rentals like those available through Airbnb</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="QEXykT">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">Airbnb Pushes Back Against Proposed D.C. Regulations</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="s8PitC">
<a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/DC-Council-Members-Want-Action-on-Visitor-Parking-Permit-Abuse-485446981.html">DC Council Members Want Action on Visitor Parking Permit Abuse</a> [NBC4]</li>
<li id="topper-headline-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-government-to-propose-zoning-changes-to-permit-airbnbs-in-residential-neighborhoods/2018/10/30/c2e160ae-dbbd-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html">D.C. government to propose zoning changes to permit Airbnbs in residential neighborhoods</a> [Washington Post]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/11/15/18095658/dc-airbnb-regulations-short-term-rentals-councilAndrew Giambrone2018-10-17T18:30:16-04:002018-10-17T18:30:16-04:00D.C. legislators delay final vote on Airbnb rules due to concerns about cost, zoning
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/pe3k" target="_blank">Pe3k</a>/Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>The regulations are expected to come up again in November</p> <p id="kQZicE">In a move that took both supporters and opponents of the effort by surprise, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson on Tuesday postponed a second and final vote by lawmakers on sweeping regulations for the city’s short-term rentals and the platforms that promote them.</p>
<p id="qAOa4i">Mendelson has in recent weeks <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928946/airbnb-vrbo-dc-regulations-short-term-rentals">led the charge</a> to pass the rules, but delayed further action on them until Nov. 13—when the Council will hold another legislative meeting—after several councilmembers said they were concerned about the estimated price tag of the regulations and the logistics of enforcing them. An <a href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/FIS%2022-92%20Short-Term%20Rental%20Regulation.pdf">analysis</a> published on Monday by the District’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) had found that the bill at issue would cost the D.C. government more than $104 million in bureaucratic expenses and lost tax revenue over the next four years. Of that amount, $96 million came from an anticipated decrease in “transient lodging” revenue.</p>
<p id="c14UDY">Booking companies like Airbnb and HomeAway currently collect such taxes and remit them to the District. Under the legislation, which the Council unanimously approved in the first of two necessary votes earlier this month, hosts would be <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">required</a> to obtain special business licenses for short-term rentals. Hosts would also be limited to renting out only their primary residences, and to doing so for no more than 90 days a year when they are absent. The idea is to allow for “legitimate home-sharing” and to reduce commercial operations where whole homes are taken off the market to be used as short-term rentals, proponents of the measure say, citing the rising cost of housing in the District. Critics say the proposal is too restrictive.</p>
<p id="98DzTV">In fact, current zoning laws already prohibit short-term rentals (meaning those that last less than 30 days at a time) in D.C.’s residential zones. While the laws are rarely, if ever, enforced, the CFO’s analysis assumed that they would be if the legislation passed, and concluded that the bill would “eliminate nearly all current short-term rentals.” About 80 to 90 percent of the District’s roughly 9,000 short-term rentals occur in residential zones, according to the CFO.</p>
<p id="sEM0JY">Hence the projected multimillion-dollar price tag of the legislation. That figure gave several councilmembers pause on Tuesday, even though they had supported the overall attempt to regulate short-term rental units before. Given the CFO’s analysis, lawmakers would arguably have to find the money to fund the rules in the District’s next budget—money that could go toward other city programs. Mendelson, the Council chairman, initially tried to persuade his colleagues that the analysis was inflated, but ultimately decided to punt the vote on the bill.</p>
<aside id="mPd8Xq"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"dc-curbed"}'></div></aside><p id="QXkrQ0">“I would rather postpone this matter for two weeks then to go forward with the unreadiness I am sensing here,” he said. Mendelson added that he was preparing a letter to send to D.C.’s Zoning Commission—the quasi-judicial body that sets zoning policy—urging its members to update zoning statutes and permit short-term rentals in line with the Council’s bill. Still, the commissioners would not be legally obligated to fulfill such a request, a Council staffer tells Curbed DC. Other jurisdictions, including neighboring Montgomery and Arlington counties, have approved legislation and amended zoning statutes around short-term rentals at once.</p>
<p id="uX82uL">“The negative fiscal impacts of this proposal—for taxpayers, families who share homes, and neighborhood businesses—are real and so we are glad cooler minds prevailed and this vote was delayed,” Airbnb said in a statement after Mendelson’s choice to push back final action. </p>
<p id="JQYZyA">Lawmakers hope to address the zoning and cost issues with the bill over the coming weeks. On Tuesday, they also agreed to delay the eventual implementation of the bill (presuming it becomes law) until October 2019, so regulators and homeowners could make preparations.</p>
<ul>
<li id="8LKb7k">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928946/airbnb-vrbo-dc-regulations-short-term-rentals">D.C. approves regulations on short-term rentals like those available through Airbnb</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="2uw7oj">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">As vote nears, coalitions war over proposed rules for short-term rentals in D.C.</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/17/17989072/dc-airbnb-vrbo-short-term-rentals-delayAndrew Giambrone2018-10-02T18:30:02-04:002018-10-02T18:30:02-04:00D.C. approves regulations on short-term rentals like those available through Airbnb
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<figcaption><a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/droidfoto" target="_blank">Droidfoto</a>/Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>The rules are poised to go into effect in the coming months</p> <p id="ZjNbDL">The District took a major step toward reigning in short-term rental activity on Tuesday, when the D.C. Council unanimously approved new licensing requirements for renting out housing units commonly listed on digital platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. Lawmakers also approved a prohibition on property owners renting out secondary homes on a short-term basis, and an annual 90-day ceiling on rentals of primary residences when the homeowner is not present.</p>
<p id="sWvzxM">Although another vote is required <a href="https://twitter.com/councilofdc/status/1047220885957107713">in the coming weeks</a> before the <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">bill</a> is sent to the mayor’s office and to Congress for review, the move dealt a significant blow to companies that offer booking services for short-term rentals. The housing type has proliferated in recent years as D.C.’s economy has blossomed and tourism has boomed. A record <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/8/28/17793054/dc-tourism-record-destination-vacation-business-travel">22.8 million visitors</a> came to the District in 2017, making it the eighth consecutive year that total visitation has jumped.</p>
<p id="jwoPtd">The Council’s approval was also a loss for property owners who rent out multiple homes for transient stays, including those who use second or third homes to make additional income, and commercial entities that profit from renting out several or dozens of units in residential buildings. Supporters of the legislation say it is in part designed to stop housing that would otherwise be available for long-term leasing from being converted to pricey, temporary use.</p>
<p id="evkvgO">But opponents say the effort is misguided and will harm D.C. hosts and visitors. Airbnb and HomeAway—which is owned by Expedia Group and is part of the same company as VRBO—were quick to pan lawmakers’ vote on Tuesday, issuing statements shortly after it occurred. </p>
<p id="sqCGst">“Fair and effective short-term rental policies are built upon compromise and collaboration—not upon onerous and restrictive bans,” HomeAway said, calling for a “plus one” rule letting landlords rent out an extra unit. “Unfortunately, the ban on vacation rentals that advanced today is anything but fair and if passed would harm thousands of local residents and small businesses.” Airbnb claimed that the Council “put the interests of the hotel cartel ahead of D.C. residents,” but said it is “ready and willing to work with the Council on rules that work.”</p>
<p id="tkCeWk">The company also cited a preliminary analysis released on Tuesday by the District’s chief financial officer finding that, if enacted as is, the legislation would cost an estimated $96 million in foregone tax revenue and administrative expenses over the next four years. The analysis assumes that officials would bar short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods, which is technically the case now under current zoning but rarely enforced. The proposal’s authors, including Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, say this means the analysis is inflated.</p>
<p id="oXD36S">Proponents of the measure, though, clapped in the Council’s chambers after the lawmakers cast their unanimous vote. Civic association leaders, affordable housing activists, and hotel workers, among others, have said the bill will help keep rental prices in check, keep family-sized homes on the market, and prevent neighborhood disruptions like properties that turn into <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/20985915/shortterm-guests-at-a-highend-dc-apartment-building-disrupt-its-regular-tenants">party</a> <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/21011995/a-battle-between-longtime-residents-of-a-luxury-h-street-ne-apartment-and-its-shortterm-guests-wages-on">pads</a>. Officials could implement the rules and require new licenses by early 2019.</p>
<aside id="CH7twl"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"dc-curbed"}'></div></aside><p id="wwCpWx">Still, the specifics may change in time for the second vote. During the discussion about the bill on Tuesday, five councilmembers, spearheaded by Ward 6’s Charles Allen, supported a failed amendment that would have increased the annual vacation-stay limit from 90 days to 120 days. Allen said some of his constituents, who own homes in neighborhoods <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20832625/capitol-hill-summers-hottest-dc-neighborhood-for-airbnb-bookings">popular</a> on Airbnb—such as Capitol Hill, Shaw, and the H Street NE corridor—would benefit from “extra flexibility” in how they can rent out their homes, as they are frequently out of town for work.</p>
<p id="b7wJYc">“We’re talking about the home that you live in,” he explained. “You leave for a short amount of time—it could be because you are deployed to the military.” Challenging the amendment were Mendelson and the bill’s original author, Ward 5’s Kenyan McDuffie, who each said the 90-day cap on vacation stays was based on restrictions seen elsewhere, like San Francisco. “When you get beyond the 90-day point, it incentivizes commercialization,” McDuffie noted. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="IcxmdV"><q>“There are commercial entities in this city that are taking advantage of the fact that we don’t have regulations in place now, and that is hurting our community.”</q></aside></div>
<p id="XYELTS">Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau later echoed those remarks, saying “there are commercial entities in this city that are taking advantage of the fact that we don’t have regulations in place now, and that is hurting our community.” Her ward has seen a few <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20846838/sting-operation-reveals-questionable-airbnb-use-at-building-in-columbia-heights">residential</a> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/a-rent-controlled-dc-building-commanded-big-bucks-on-airbnb/2017/03/13/cb4f64d2-042a-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html">buildings</a> that normally offer rent-controlled units used for short-term stays. (Airbnb says its platform has not had a significant impact on D.C.’s supply of affordable units, and that its entire-home listings represent just two percent of D.C.’s housing stock.)</p>
<p id="oLWHMq">Meanwhile, Ward 3’s Mary Cheh said she hoped officials would “revisit” whether property owners could legally use second homes for short-term stays. She said she has heard from many residents in her ward, in Upper Northwest, who rent out condo units for additional income, “particularly if they’re older and want to use that property to stay in their homes.”</p>
<p id="NLa8v5">A Council committee <a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/B22-92-Short-Term-Rentals-Regulation-Packet-1.pdf">projects</a> that there are about 9,000 total short-term rentals in D.C., which “directly compete with over 31,000 hotel rooms.” It says that about 1,000 of these units are available on a given day and separate zoning rules will likely have to be updated.</p>
<p id="QpEeAv">In addition, the legislation includes civil penalties for operating illegal short-term rentals. Tenants would not be permitted to rent out their apartments via online booking services, and hosts would be required to get smoke detectors and liability insurance for their units. When staying on site, homeowners would be free to rent out basements and spare rooms.</p>
<ul>
<li id="dgFxhu">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentals">As vote nears, coalitions war over proposed rules for short-term rentals in D.C.</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="0ceHFn">
<a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2018/8/28/17793054/dc-tourism-record-destination-vacation-business-travel">D.C. sees record 22.8M visitors in 2017, city’s tourism arm says</a> [Curbed DC]</li>
<li id="LPxqcr">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/20985915/shortterm-guests-at-a-highend-dc-apartment-building-disrupt-its-regular-tenants">Short-Term Guests at a High-End D.C. Apartment Building Disrupt Its Regular Tenants</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="Bn3vJl">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/21011995/a-battle-between-longtime-residents-of-a-luxury-h-street-ne-apartment-and-its-shortterm-guests-wages-on">Longtime Residents of a Luxury H Street NE Building Battle Short-term Guests</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="or9wTA">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20832625/capitol-hill-summers-hottest-dc-neighborhood-for-airbnb-bookings">Capitol Hill, Summer’s Hottest D.C. Neighborhood for Airbnb Bookings</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="lGOKh5">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20846838/sting-operation-reveals-questionable-airbnb-use-at-building-in-columbia-heights">‘Sting Operation’ Reveals Questionable Airbnb Use at Building in Columbia Heights </a>[Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="topper-headline-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/a-rent-controlled-dc-building-commanded-big-bucks-on-airbnb/2017/03/13/cb4f64d2-042a-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html">A rent-controlled D.C. building commanded big bucks on Airbnb</a> [Washington Post]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/2/17928946/airbnb-vrbo-dc-regulations-short-term-rentalsAndrew Giambrone2018-10-01T19:19:54-04:002018-10-01T19:19:54-04:00As vote nears, coalitions war over proposed rules for short-term rentals in D.C.
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CBFfNpxJbIGgetzPzVxxulmK0eo=/195x0:3306x2333/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61613149/shutterstock_411422632.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Houses in the District | <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/david%20harmantas" target="_blank">David Harmantas</a>/Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Supporters and opponents of the bill are gearing up for the vote with a bevy of arguments and statistics</p> <p id="ddWtpm">Short-term rentals available online became more popular in the District after 2009, when Airbnb launched here. Now, almost a decade later, D.C. lawmakers are poised to formally regulate the practice through legislation that would limit the number of units that can be legally rented on a short-term basis. A vote on the measure is set to take place on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="azvQTl">The legislation follows action taken by other cities, including <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2018/7/19/17590164/airbnb-nyc-law-proposal-city-council-passed">New York</a>, <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/9/6/16263986/airbnb-online-registration-san-francisco">San Francisco</a>, and <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/11/13/16646732/seattle-airbnb-vacation-rental-tax">Seattle</a>, to establish rules for short-term rentals. It would ban property owners from renting out homes other than their primary residences and restrict vacation rentals—those in which the host is absent from the property—to a maximum 90 days a year. The new proposal, first <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-to-vote-tuesday-on-barring-residents-from-renting-out-second-homes-on-airbnb/2018/09/27/d78f9806-c298-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c1336652aa31">reported</a> by the <em>Washington Post</em> last week, updates a <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B22-0092?FromSearchResults=true">bill</a> that was <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">introduced</a> in early 2017.</p>
<p id="gdridP">Since its inception, the legislation has been controversial. Dozens of witnesses testified at a public <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">hearing</a> on the bill, in April 2017, that lasted for hours. Both proponents and critics of the measure have waged significant advertising campaigns around it while building diverse coalitions. The supporters include faith leaders, affordable housing advocates, and much of the local hotel industry, including union members; the opponents include short-term rental booking platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, travel and realtor groups, and some homeowners.</p>
<p id="6VqAiQ">The <a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/B22-92-Short-term-Rental-Regulation-Act-of-2018_COMMITEE-PRINT-10.1.18.pdf">bill</a>, which could be amended on Tuesday, represents the first attempt by D.C. officials to comprehensively regulate short-term rentals. Nearby <a href="https://www.arlnow.com/2016/12/12/arlington-county-board-approves-new-airbnb-regulations/">Arlington</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-adopts-rules-taxing-airbnb-style-rentals/2018/08/02/fd369bbc-95d5-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html?utm_term=.131032b71681">Fairfax</a>, and <a href="https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/real-estate/8-things-to-know-about-montgomery-countys-new-airbnb-and-short-term-rental-policy/">Montgomery</a> counties passed laws on the practice over the past two years. In addition to the restrictions on secondary-home and vacation rentals, the D.C. legislation would require hosts to obtain licenses from the District as well as smoke detectors and liability insurance for their units. It would also implement civil penalties and prohibit tenants from operating short-term rentals.</p>
<p id="BlJWRB">At a press conference on Monday, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who revised the the initial proposal by Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, said he expected “healthy debate” over the bill on Tuesday. He said the legislation is intended to reign in “commercial activity”—in essence, illegal unlicensed hotels—while D.C. sees an affordable housing crisis. </p>
<p id="nxnvjY">He added that the 90-day rule for whole-home rentals is “fairly common” across U.S. cities, and that the bill seeks to balance property owners’ rights to generate income via short-term rentals with larger concerns. “We’re trying to deal with the adverse consequences of having transient guest traffic in our residential neighborhoods,” Mendelson noted. “And what we’re saying with this legislation...is we’re OK with the property owner present [or] home-sharing.”</p>
<p id="yV4onx">Some neighborhood groups are hoping for the bill’s passage. Graylin Presbury, who serves as president of the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, says in a letter to the D.C. Council that “out-of-state commercial interests” are scooping up real estate throughout the District and listing illegal hotel units on short-term rental platforms. “And, they have no intention of renting to D.C. residents or paying D.C. taxes,” he writes, contending that the activity raises rental prices. “It’s unfair to those with a genuine desire to participate in legal home sharing.”</p>
<p id="UXNLgb">But critics say the bill, in its current form, goes too far. San Francisco-based Airbnb says the proposal is “overly strict,” and argues that there is a “unique need for short-term housing” in a city like D.C. that annually draws thousands of temporary workers, such as interns, nurses, professors, and foreign-service officers. The company also criticizes the proposed penalties (ranging from $500 to $6,000 per violation) and the record-keeping rules in the legislation, claiming that the effort has been peddled by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/technology/inside-the-hotel-industrys-plan-to-combat-airbnb.html">hotel industry</a>, as documented elsewhere.</p>
<p id="mLrewc">Moreover, Airbnb says the short-term rental units available on its platform are not seriously affecting D.C.’s stock of affordable housing. It says “entire homes” shared for more than 182 nights a year constitute “only 0.22 percent” of all D.C.’s units, or less than 700 residences. On Monday, the company released figures suggesting that the current bill could “rob” hosts in majority-minority zip codes of between $18 million and $26 million in extra income each year, based on data for hosts with multiple listings and at least 90 days of annual bookings.</p>
<aside id="ZpwCoZ"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"dc-curbed"}'></div></aside><p id="M5edXL">The legislation’s proponents have marshaled their own numbers. Led in part by the It’s Time, D.C. umbrella group—which includes labor union Unite Here Local 25, the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, and American Family Voices—they say the bill would free up thousands of housing units now used for short-term rentals to be used for longer-term leases instead.</p>
<p id="D9uycv">The group released a poll on Monday finding that four in five voters in D.C. agreed that the short-term rental market “needs some type of regulation.” Roughly the same share agreed that property owners “who profit by renting out apartments or houses should be subject to the same safety and fire regulations as a hotel” as well as “zoning, health, and safety rules.”</p>
<p id="ws8Qk5">Eighty-six percent of respondents said they “overall” support the pending bill, which the poll framed as an endeavor “to protect the rights of city residents to rent out their primary residence as a short-term rental but crack down on commercial investors buying up homes to covert to short-term rentals.” Conducted online by Axis Research, the poll surveyed “400 registered voters living in Washington, D.C.” over three days in September. (In a statement, Airbnb contested the results as “hotel-funded,” and plugged the benefits of home-sharing.)</p>
<p id="n8YVLx">Still, the proposal worries some residents. Jackie Havard, an Airbnb host identified by the company whose family lists their second home, in <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/neighborhood/1956/hill-east">Hill East</a>, both on Airbnb and VRBO, says her family turned to short-term rentals after the previous long-term tenants moved out and new ones did not materialize. Havard says the home, which has two bedrooms and sleeps five people, lets her family “make ends meet.” It bankrolls the home’s mortgage, its utilities, and her medical bills, with a few hundred dollars left over each month as additional income.</p>
<p id="HdCTl4">“Taking my small business away is not going to solve affordable housing,” she says. “It’s so easy to say that and say it’s supply and demand and end it there and feel like you’ve won the argument. But that’s just not the case. Affordable housing is much more complicated.” Havard notes that her family’s second home is usually rented out for between 250 and 300 days a year and the average price is about $200 a day. “It fluctuates. April is a huge month.”</p>
<p id="Ar5mNm">Tech industry groups have joined the chorus of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-should-avoid-taking-a-hacksaw-to-its-short-term-rental-industry/2018/09/29/96de15e4-c365-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?utm_term=.d9277380f6a5">concern</a> about the legislation. In a letter to Mendelson—the Council chairman—Net Choice, Travel Tech, the Internet Association, and the Consumer Tech Association say the ban on secondary-home short-term rentals should be removed. “Vacation and short-term rental platforms including Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO both enhance consumer choice and enable economic opportunity for DC residents and neighborhoods,” they write, warning of harms to the local economy. “Denying families affordable, convenient lodging options will unnecessarily and arbitrarily limit tourism.”</p>
<p id="ItYP7r">In describing the latest version of the bill, a D.C. Council committee <a href="http://chairmanmendelson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/B22-92-Short-Term-Rentals-Regulation-Packet-1.pdf">reports</a> that on a given day, there are about 1,000 short-term rental units in the District being advertised via online booking services. The committee also reports that there are an estimated 9,000 total short-term rentals in D.C., which “directly compete with over 31,000 hotel rooms.” It recommends that the D.C. Zoning Commission should update its regulations “to better manage both the demand and subsequent proliferation of short term rentals in [the city’s] residential zones.”</p>
<p id="Vx0CI3">Assuming the Council passes the measure on first reading on Tuesday, it would have to do so again in the coming weeks thanks to a quirk of Council procedure. Then, Mayor Muriel Bowser would get to review the bill before it is sent to Congress, as is standard for District laws. On Monday, Bowser’s office appeared to voice concerns with the current bill, saying not only residents but visitors benefit from sharing-economy platforms, including Airbnb.</p>
<p id="qBpTIR">“The Mayor wants to ensure that any regulations put in place are about building a more equitable and inclusive D.C. — not about locking Washingtonians out of emerging and profitable markets,” explained LaToya Foster, a spokeswoman for Bowser, in a statement.</p>
<p id="ynfrSI">The District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) would be responsible for enforcing the law. DCRA currently does not issue distinct licenses for short-term rentals.</p>
<p id="6JEU2R"><em>This post has been updated with comment from Presbury and</em> <em>the tech industry groups.</em></p>
<ul>
<li id="3jiYN5">
<a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2018/7/19/17590164/airbnb-nyc-law-proposal-city-council-passed">City Council passes Airbnb bill that will regulate NYC host activity</a> [Curbed NY]</li>
<li id="HDCaOp">
<a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/9/6/16263986/airbnb-online-registration-san-francisco">Airbnb says online registration will legalize all SF hosts</a> [Curbed SF]</li>
<li id="CLvqzD">
<a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/11/13/16646732/seattle-airbnb-vacation-rental-tax">Seattle will tax and regulate short-term rentals</a> [Curbed Seattle]</li>
<li id="topper-headline-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-to-vote-tuesday-on-barring-residents-from-renting-out-second-homes-on-airbnb/2018/09/27/d78f9806-c298-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bb8584f729c1">D.C. Council to vote Oct. 2 on whether to ban renting out second homes on Airbnb</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="UqMRyZ">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">Airbnb Pushes Back Against Proposed D.C. Regulations</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="kKmzVS">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">Opposing Sides Gear Up for Hearing on D.C. Bill That Would Regulate Airbnb</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="6fn6UL">
<a href="https://www.arlnow.com/2016/12/12/arlington-county-board-approves-new-airbnb-regulations/">Arlington County Board Approves New Airbnb Regulations</a> [ARLnow]</li>
<li id="zVLQAs">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-adopts-rules-taxing-airbnb-style-rentals/2018/08/02/fd369bbc-95d5-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html?utm_term=.01a2be034dfe">Fairfax County adopts rules taxing Airbnb-style rentals</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="n9Eznq">
<a href="https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/real-estate/8-things-to-know-about-montgomery-countys-new-airbnb-and-short-term-rental-policy/">8 Things to Know About Montgomery County’s New Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Policy</a> [Bethesda Beat]</li>
<li id="link-148a5e2f">
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/16/technology/inside-the-hotel-industrys-plan-to-combat-airbnb.html">Inside the Hotel Industry’s Plan to Combat Airbnb</a> [New York Times]</li>
<li id="mN5qGN">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dc-should-avoid-taking-a-hacksaw-to-its-short-term-rental-industry/2018/09/29/96de15e4-c365-11e8-a1f0-a4051b6ad114_story.html?utm_term=.d9277380f6a5">D.C. should avoid taking a hacksaw to its short-term rental industry</a> [Washington Post]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/10/1/17923262/airbnb-dc-council-regulations-short-term-rentalsAndrew Giambrone2018-08-22T16:28:00-04:002018-08-22T16:28:00-04:00D.C. attorney general probes short-term rentals at dozens of apartment buildings
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/veUSdOIlipaJkFRzWVbborwZ5EU=/1029x0:4740x2783/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60985983/shutterstock_1096474073.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Downtown D.C. | <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/parajanoff" target="_blank">Evgenia Parajanian</a>/Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>The suspected activity could violate rent control and consumer protection laws</p> <p id="H93IGM">The District’s top lawyer is notifying landlords who appear to lease apartments like hotel rooms that they may be breaking the law.</p>
<p id="5xfrTK">On Wednesday, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine sent <a href="http://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2018-08/Landlord-Information-Request-Letter-08-22-2018.pdf">letters</a> requesting information about short-term rental practices from 19 owners and managers of 33 multifamily buildings in the city suspected of running hotel-type operations. In a release, Racine’s office does not specify the landlords or their buildings, but says blocks of short-term rentals—usually advertised on vacation websites—are “concentrated in neighborhoods like <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/neighborhood/1915/logan-circle">Logan Circle</a>, <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/neighborhood/1894/dupont-circle">Dupont Circle</a>, <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/neighborhood/1951/capitol-hill">Capitol Hill</a>, and <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/neighborhood/1916/chinatown">Chinatown</a>.”</p>
<p id="p212T8">This means people have fewer opportunities to find traditional leases “where demand is the greatest and few affordable options exist,” according to the attorney general’s office. Some residents have also griped about short-term rentals drawing unruly guests to their buildings and leading to security issues in recent months, the release notes.</p>
<p id="BU2STC">“We’ve heard complaints that some landlords misled their long-term residents about these rentals,” Racine says in a statement, adding that the letters his office sent put landlords “on notice that short-term rentals must comply with the District’s consumer protection and rent control laws.” </p>
<p id="kpE1r2">Those laws require businesses to provide adequate disclosures about the material terms of the goods or services they sell, and prohibit landlords from converting rent-controlled units into temporary accommodations, respectively. Racine’s office argues that operating rentals less than 90 days in length in apartment buildings is misleading when tenants are not made aware of the activity.</p>
<p id="y67EgQ">His letters request information about the circumstances under which the landlords permit short-term rental units “either directly or through an agreement with another business.” They also ask for the numbers of such units as well as copies of any contracts with third-party businesses involved in short-term rental activity and notices to long-term residents.</p>
<p id="JizlIl">“We are contacting you,” the letters say, “because it appears possible to rent a unit at your properties for as little as one night via the websites bridgestreet.com, stayalfred.com, and globalluxurysuites.com.” These websites, among others, offer platforms where prospective guests can search for and book short-term rentals.</p>
<p id="MfXEmM">This isn’t the first time Racine has gone after suspected operators of hotel-like apartments. <a href="https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-racine-secures-210000-restitution">Last fall</a> and <a href="https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-racine-secures-restitution-0">last spring</a>, his office settled with landlords and an outside company alleged to have run short-term rental units in apartment buildings as illegal hotel units. In some cases, the short-term rentals were of rent-controlled units, which Racine said “deplet[ed] the city’s inventory” of affordable housing.</p>
<p id="EvgqRC">Public complaints about the disruptions that short-term rental guests can cause have also seen an uptick. In December, residents of a luxury apartment building in Logan Circle told the <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/20985915/shortterm-guests-at-a-highend-dc-apartment-building-disrupt-its-regular-tenants"><em>Washington City Paper</em></a><em> </em>that temporary visitors threw loud parties and clogged common areas, and that their landlord had not fully disclosed the extent of the activity before they moved in.</p>
<p id="R0inVE">Residents of another luxury apartment building, along the H Street NE corridor, also told <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/21011995/a-battle-between-longtime-residents-of-a-luxury-h-street-ne-apartment-and-its-shortterm-guests-wages-on">the paper</a> in July that they had experienced similar issues, including “[drunk] interns launching fireworks off the roof” and overtaking the building’s pool. UrbanTurf <a href="https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/station-house-appeals-revocation-of-c-of-o/14342">reported</a> this week that in June, the city signaled that it would revoke this building’s current occupancy certificate if the situation did not change, but on Monday the owner appealed the city’s notice to revoke.</p>
<p id="fFleyF">WAMU recently <a href="https://wamu.org/story/18/08/06/apartment-buildings-d-c-area-turning-part-time-hotels-heres/#.W33BnNhKjBI">documented</a> the rise of short-term rentals in D.C. apartment buildings. The station found that “major developers...are turning to temporary housing services to fill the gap” between when their buildings first open and longer-term tenants move in.</p>
<p id="SbWJOQ">Racine’s action comes as the D.C. Council is expected to vote on new <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">short-term rental regulations</a> this fall. Under a bill by Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, landlords would be required to register their short-term rental listings with the District, and units would be subject to certain restrictions on lengths of stay and numbers of guests.</p>
<p id="ziSMTG">In a statement to Curbed DC, Racine says he is glad lawmakers are examining the issue. “We need a regulatory scheme for short-term rentals that is clear and that protects the safety and security of residents and visitors,” he says. “We also need protections to maintain our supply of affordable housing.”</p>
<ul>
<li id="M6TkLf">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/20985915/shortterm-guests-at-a-highend-dc-apartment-building-disrupt-its-regular-tenants">Short-Term Guests at a High-End D.C. Apartment Building Disrupt Its Regular Tenants </a>[Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="wj7Wkx">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/article/21011995/a-battle-between-longtime-residents-of-a-luxury-h-street-ne-apartment-and-its-shortterm-guests-wages-on">Longtime Residents of a Luxury H Street NE Building Battle Short-term Guests</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="hgGmKc">
<a href="https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/station-house-appeals-revocation-of-c-of-o/14342">H Street Apartment Building Appeals Apartel-Related Revocation of C of O</a> [UrbanTurf]</li>
<li id="tSWIJx">
<a href="https://wamu.org/story/18/08/06/apartment-buildings-d-c-area-turning-part-time-hotels-heres/#.W33BnNhKjBI">Apartment Buildings In The D.C. Area Are Turning Into Part-Time Hotels. Here’s Why.</a> [WAMU]</li>
<li id="mggMHE">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">Opposing Sides Gear Up for Hearing on D.C. Bill That Would Regulate Airbnb</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/8/22/17769748/dc-attorney-general-short-term-rentals-housingAndrew Giambrone2018-08-08T14:47:15-04:002018-08-08T14:47:15-04:00Airbnb: Stays east of the Anacostia River grew 65 percent since mid-2017
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oksn8vYIi2ck9pWKnbUJdVNdcf8=/229x0:3884x2741/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60768003/GettyImages_884186124.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Good Hope Road SE in Anacostia | The Washington Post/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The company’s latest report arrives as D.C. considers new regulations on short-term rentals</p> <p id="4X2y6G">If Airbnb is to be believed, D.C. neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River “are now experiencing more visitors and seeing an important economic lift” thanks to its platform.</p>
<p id="ttp1GT">That’s from a new <a href="https://www.airbnbcitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/REPORT_-Airbnb-and-D.C.%E2%80%99s-East-of-the-River-Communities-August-2018.pdf">report</a> on east-of-the-river bookings by the online home-rental service, which has operated in the District since 2009. “Guest arrivals” in Wards 7 and 8—the city sectors that lie east of the Anacostia River—grew 65 percent from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, according to Airbnb. </p>
<p id="xcSt0j">East-of-the-river neighborhoods saw roughly 29,300 total guest arrivals—or unique trips—during that period. They recorded about 17,680 guest arrivals during the prior 12 months.</p>
<p id="BImedX">The most popular neighborhoods for Airbnb stays east of the Anacostia River were in Ward 8: Anacostia, Buena Vista, Shipley Terrace, and Fairlawn. These were followed by Benning Ridge, Marshall Heights, and River Terrace in Ward 7. Of all those neighborhoods, Buena Vista experienced the greatest year-over-year percentage growth in guest arrivals—230 percent, with 1,730 trips in the most recent 12-month period.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jKHIDzP6AEYp7-N0C9hpJe9sLgo=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11945417/Screen_Shot_2018_08_08_at_1.00.53_PM.png">
<cite>Airbnb</cite>
<figcaption>East-of-the-river guest arrivals from 2016 to 2018</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="AqYl4t">During that year, Airbnb says its east-of-the-river hosts earned $3.75 million combined from renting out units through its platform, or a 58-percent jump over the prior year. “The typical Airbnb host in these communities earned $4,712,” the company says. Of the guest arrivals from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, 14 percent involved families with children under 13.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rajdrF8A5eEYZ9Z-JrtOnnbAeCI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11945529/Screen_Shot_2018_08_08_at_1.42.21_PM.png">
<cite>Airbnb</cite>
<figcaption>East-of-the-river Airbnb host income from 2016 to 2018</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="flVrhY">The company’s report comes as the D.C. Council mulls <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">regulations</a> on short-term rentals booked through services like Airbnb and VRBO. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who represents much of Northeast, proposed a <a href="http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/37319/B22-0092-Introduction.pdf">bill</a> in 2017 that would require the hosts of short-term rentals to register their listings with the city and obtain special business licenses for their units. That legislation would also limit the number and duration of rental bookings.</p>
<p id="9dDTkC">Currently, in the preliminary version of the bill, hosts would be allowed to rent out only their permanent homes (defined as somewhere a person lives for at least “90 consecutive days”) and maintain only one listing per residence—a bedroom, a basement, or an entire property. In addition, when not staying overnight in their homes, hosts would be restricted to renting out their listings for only 15 days a year through what the legislation calls “vacation rentals.” </p>
<p id="retgfN">The D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs would be charged with enforcing these rules, including by issuing fines that would range from $1,000 to $7,000 per violation. McDuffie and other supporters of the bill say it would help to combat illegal (or unlicensed) hotels and to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-news/airbnb-becomes-flash-point-in-the-districts-hot-debate-over-gentrification/2017/11/21/3c3bcdb2-bf19-11e7-8444-a0d4f04b89eb_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bee2b519185e">preserve affordable housing</a> that <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20846838/sting-operation-reveals-questionable-airbnb-use-at-building-in-columbia-heights">sometimes</a> gets <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/a-rent-controlled-dc-building-commanded-big-bucks-on-airbnb/2017/03/13/cb4f64d2-042a-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html">used</a> for short-term rentals. </p>
<p id="cFo2Yi">Airbnb has challenged the proposed regulations as overly strict, particularly the annual 15-day cap on vacation stays. The bill was the subject of a <a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">contentious public hearing</a> in April 2017, but lawmakers have not taken any formal action on it since then. McDuffie has said he is open to revising the bill, including the 15-day number, to “find the right balance” for D.C.</p>
<p id="FO0tJk">In June, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said on <a href="https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2018-06-22/the-politics-hour-june-22-2018">the Kojo Nnadmi Show</a> that the Council would likely mark-up the legislation in “early fall.” He added that he believed that the D.C. government should focus on discouraging commercial enterprises from running illegal hotels but generally let homeowners rent out their homes on a short-term basis.</p>
<p id="4OTumS">Elsewhere in the region, Fairfax County last week <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-adopts-rules-taxing-airbnb-style-rentals/2018/08/02/fd369bbc-95d5-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html?utm_term=.4f41a9f86eb8">approved</a> rules that allow residents to operate short-term rentals for up to 60 days a year, along with other restrictions. Those regulations require homeowners to get a permit and pay occupancy taxes for the rentals. And in late 2016, Arlington <a href="https://wamu.org/story/16/12/12/arlington-county-legalizes-airbnb-home-sharing-remains-legal-gray-area-rest-region/">adopted</a> <a href="https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/how_to_register_an_accessory_homestay_in_arlington/12027">rules</a> for short-term rentals, including an 185-day cap on vacation stays and limits on the number of guests allowed at one time.</p>
<ul>
<li id="8OpKGN">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20851310/airbnb-pushes-back-against-proposed-dc-regulations">Airbnb Pushes Back Against Proposed D.C. Regulations</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="topper-headline-wrapper">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-news/airbnb-becomes-flash-point-in-the-districts-hot-debate-over-gentrification/2017/11/21/3c3bcdb2-bf19-11e7-8444-a0d4f04b89eb_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.bee2b519185e">Airbnb becomes flash point in the District’s hot debate over gentrification</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="eM2flU">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20846838/sting-operation-reveals-questionable-airbnb-use-at-building-in-columbia-heights">‘Sting Operation’ Reveals Questionable Airbnb Use at Building in Columbia Heights</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="mNBVaS">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/a-rent-controlled-dc-building-commanded-big-bucks-on-airbnb/2017/03/13/cb4f64d2-042a-11e7-b9fa-ed727b644a0b_story.html">A rent-controlled D.C. building commanded big bucks on Airbnb</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="kjhRH0">
<a href="https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blog/20859147/opposing-sides-gear-up-for-hearing-on-dc-bill-that-would-regulate-airbnb">Opposing Sides Gear Up for Hearing on D.C. Bill That Would Regulate Airbnb</a> [Washington City Paper]</li>
<li id="rhHCmc">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/fairfax-adopts-rules-taxing-airbnb-style-rentals/2018/08/02/fd369bbc-95d5-11e8-a679-b09212fb69c2_story.html?utm_term=.49c6284d4a5b">Fairfax County adopts rules taxing Airbnb-style rentals</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="eTyrBL">
<a href="https://wamu.org/story/16/12/12/arlington-county-legalizes-airbnb-home-sharing-remains-legal-gray-area-rest-region/">As Arlington County Legalizes Airbnb, Home-Sharing Remains In Legal Gray Area In Rest Of Region</a> [WAMU]</li>
</ul>
https://dc.curbed.com/2018/8/8/17663854/airbnb-anacostia-river-short-term-rentals-vacationAndrew Giambrone