In Houston, Texas, the city council has approved amendments to make short-term rental regulations more strict.
Under the new rules, property owners and operators will be held responsible for any noise, destructive behavior or criminal activity at their properties.
"I think the 'and or' gives us the opportunity to go after either the owner or the operator, owner and operator, gives us the flexibility to look at what's actually happening," Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex Tatum said.
Short-term rental owners now have about three months to comply with the new rules. The changes were made in response to complaints from residents over issues like crime and noise at properties around the city.
Beginning August 1, short-term rental applications can be filed online, with a $275 annual registration fee. Owners and operators of the rentals will now be required to complete an anti human trafficking training.
The new regulations also allow the city to revoke all of an operator’s rental permits if they have three permits revoked in two years.
New and Proposed Regulations:
- Maui, Hawaii: The mayor of Maui plans to phase out short-term rentals in response to a growing housing crisis, a move that a new study says could put a dent in the island’s tourism revenue. (link)
- Coachella Valley, California: Officials extended a moratorium on short-term rentals in the Coachella Valley community of B Bar H Ranch and in nearby Thousand Palms for another 10 months to allow time to draft regulations that address house parties in the area known for the large-scale Coachella music festival. (link)
- Columbia, Tennessee: Under newly passed legislation, short-term rentals will only be allowed to operate in Columbia’s urban corridor district. (link)
Other Noteworthy News:
- Upfront pricing: Airbnb has changed the platform to show the total price of a booking upfront by default, a move that responds to users’ frustration over hidden fees. (link)
- New York politicking: Airbnb is under a de facto ban in New York city, and the company is spending millions in political donations to back candidates who could ease restrictions. (link)
- Island regulations: Puerto Rican lawmakers debated a proposed bill (SB 238) that would regulate short-term rentals in a recent hearing. “The sharing economy is here to stay,” said Sen. Nitza Morán-Trinidad, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, Banking, Commerce, Insurance and Cooperativism. “But the time has also come to make sure that this business model grows in an orderly manner.” (link)
- NFL Draft: As football fans prepare for the NFL Draft this week, short-term rentals in Green Bay, Wisconsin, are dropping their prices in response to fewer visitors than expected turning out for the event. (link)
