Vacation-rental foes are not interested in consumer choice

Nothing would make the Florida hotel industry and local governments happier than if they could ban short-term vacation rentals in our state.

Since 2011, local governments and hotels have attempted to restrict or outright ban vacation rentals. Flagler County has an ordinance in place that prohibits the rental of private property for less than six months — they currently have over $22 million in Bert Harris claims as a result. Additionally, the city of Miami Beach is fining private property owners for violating their vacation rental ordinance to the tune of $20,000 a day.

A recent op-ed by Carol Dover of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association presents an alarmist, inaccurate and unfair portrait of short-term vacation rentals that fails to acknowledge their important contribution to our local and state economies — or her organization’s self-interest in limiting them.

Dover claims that vacation rentals are “illegal hotels” — which is absurd. Florida Statutes Section 509.242 says “a hotel is any public lodging establishment containing sleeping room accommodations for 25 or more guests

...” Most vacation rentals are privately owned single-family homes or condos. The only difference between a vacation rental and renting your private property under the landlord-tenant law is how long the occupant stays.

The fact is that travelers love the options they have with vacation rentals and the authentic experiences they enjoy staying in rented rooms, homes, apartments or condos. A recent statewide survey found that 93 percent of Floridians believe Florida travelers should be permitted to rent accommodations other than hotels — such as vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts.

An economic impact study showed that Florida’s vacation rental market had a total economic impact of $31.1 billion from an estimated 17 million vacation rental visitors in 2013. Florida’s vacation rental industry directly or indirectly supports 322,032 jobs annually generating $12.64 billion a year in labor income. Although that study is 4 years old and was released well before firms like Airbnb and HomeAway became household names, we can only assume the economic impact has grown. For a state that relies heavily on sales tax revenue, that economic impact is significant.

The FRLA’s interest in this issue is not about creating a level playing field. It’s about taking away consumer choice and protecting hotel market share.

GREG STEUBE,