Short Term Rentals: Are they compatible with residential communities? Are efforts to limit them an affront to property rights?
Internet-based STR companies such as Airbnb have built a burgeoning industry connecting homeowners with vacationers, who rent out rooms or entire houses for short-term stays. It's a fascinating example of the New Economy, but this new business model has run up against stiffer opposition than expected.
These room-sharing operations have been very popular with tourists and those who rent out their properties. But the main obstacle to their growth has been residents in neighborhoods where STRs are commonplace, especially in beach and tourist areas in Southern California.
Local residents are upset at the noise and traffic that result when vacationers mix with permanent residents. Property owners see it as a property-rights issue, and argue that cities should crack down on bad behavior – not ban or severely limit an entire industry. Supporters see this as a great new business model that helps consumers and the local tourist economy.
ON JANUARY 27 FROM 8 AM TO 10 AM, the R Street Institute and the Orange County Register are sponsoring a panel discussion and breakfast with some key local thought leaders. The event is complimentary and open to all Chapman students and faculty and to the broader community.
Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait led the charge for his city's new laws banning short-term rental houses in residential neighborhoods. They are still allowed in commercial areas and people are still free to engage in room sharing, where they rent out a room while they are home. Tait is a well-known property-rights advocate, so it will be fascinating to hear how he came to his current viewpoint.
Andrew Moylan is executive director of the R Street Institute, where he authored the Room Score Index evaluating local short-term-rental regulations and grading various cities across the country on their hospitality to these new hospitality industries. He is a supporter of STRs.
Brian Calle is the Southern California News Group's Opinion Editor, where he oversees the editorial board and opinion content at its 11 daily newspapers and websites, including the Orange County Register. His team has looked closely at the impact of STRs and their regulations in various Southern California cities.
Will Swaim is president of the California Public Policy Center. Based in Tustin, the group is an educational nonprofit focused on how to improve California's democracy and economy. Swaim was the founding publisher of OC Weekly and someone with a long background reporting on local-governance issues.
Moderator – Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute, which promotes free-market solutions to governance problems. R Street is based in Washington, D.C., and Greenhut heads up its western office in Sacramento. He writes columns for the Register and other publications.
Please join us for an informal breakfast discussion about an important local public-policy topic.
There is no charge. Please RSVP to Steven Greenhut at sgreenhut@rstreet.org. Click here to see more info on Facebook. Click here for a white paper by the R Street Institute regarding Short Term Rentals.