Rental company refuses refund, family says
Michigan group planned stay in Sandbridge, but now amid the pandemic, they may have to forfeit money if they do not visit this year
“To have our family of 27 infiltrate your city and stores, I think they are opening up their fellow Virginians to danger, too.”
— Karen Budzinski
VIRGINIA BEACH — A Michigan family planned to spend Memorial Day on the Virginia coast. It was the only week this year 27 members of the Budzinskis could find in their busy schedules to travel to Sandbridge and spend some quality time together.
But then a global pandemic happened and four of them fell ill with the coronavirus.
Gov. Ralph Northam also banned indoor and outdoor gatherings of 10 or more — as well as sunbathing on the beach — until June 10 to slow the spread of the virus.
Karen Budzinski, 63, figured she would be able to easily cancel the weeklong vacation for her five children, their spouses, and 15 grandchildren since her group numbered far more than 10, but she quickly learned she was wrong. She said Sandbridge Realty has refused to refund about $10,000 she’s paid for a 12bedroom oceanfront mansion, and she has not received a response from the company that provided her travel insurance, Generali Global Assistance.
Sandbridge Realty’s owner, Jim Moffat, did not reply to a request for comment. In a statement posted on its website, the company said it remained “open for business” and was working diligently to ensure their “guests, home owners and staff members stay safe and healthy.”
“We are monitoring this unprecedented situation closely and we are listening carefully to each and every one of our guests and owners,” the statement read.
If guests want to cancel, however, they need to contact their trip insurance company — many of which are not covering coronavirus-related cancellations.
Generali Global Assistance said on its website that some of its plans will not provide coverage for losses that happen on or after March 11, when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Company officials did not respond to a request for comment regarding Northam’s stay-at-home order.
Sandbridge is a residential beach community in the southern part of Virginia Beach that includes more than 1,700 homes and condos. Nearly half of them are rentals, according to data provided by rental companies that manage the houses. Sandbridge Realty manages more than 200 homes.
The area is a well known vacation spot to Virginians that’s comparable to the Outer Banks, which has blocked guests from entering the area until coronavirus is under control.
North Carolina’s Real Estate Commission ruled last month that tenants who do not get to visit during the closure should get their money back.
In Virginia, however, vacation rentals are still legal. The governor stopped short of banning them.
Earlier this month, Virginia Beach Acting City Manager Tom Leahy sent a letter to managers of Sandbridge rentals encouraging them to discontinue business. If they continue, however, he reminded them that gatherings larger than 10 in rental homes were generally illegal and punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500.
“Many of you have prudently elected to discontinue rentals of your properties during this time,” Leahy wrote on April 2. “I encourage you to continue to do so, as this action can help save lives and minimize to the greatest extent possible the duration of this emergency situation.”
Sandbridge Realty’s decision to keep Budzinski’s money is not sitting well with her.
“They are telling people from Michigan to come into their state against the governor’s orders,” she said. “It is illegal to have 27 people in that house right now. To have our family of 27 infiltrate your city and stores, I think they are opening up their fellow Virginians to danger, too.”
March was a tough month for the Budzinskis. Karen Budzinski, her husband, daughter and sonin-law all fell ill with coronavirus. Her husband, Gary, is still battling pneumonia, she said.
Even though all of them are likely to recover by the end of May, several members of her family have preexisting health conditions that would make them much more likely to die if they contract COVID-19, she said.
On top of that, her 84-year-old mother recently had emergency lung surgery. She is recovering at home, but now needs to be cared for by her children for eight weeks. Budzinski said she originally bought travel insurance last year just in case her mom’s health took a turn for the worse. She is seeking reimbursement from her travel insurance on the grounds she needs to be a caregiver.
Budzinski said she asked Sandbridge Realty to move her booking to the same week next year, but a company representative said she could only rebook in 2020, according to an email provided by Budzinski. The large family doesn’t have another available week this year for a vacation, Budzinski said.
“I am not going to put myself and my family at risk when it is not safe for them or others,” she said. “I am just aghast at the lack of willingness to work with us.”