Local control of short-term rentals will help preserve our neighborhoods
Our neighborhoods are the heart and soul of our communities, each one a unique mix of families, cultures, and traditions that make our cities vibrant and diverse. As a 27-year resident of Sterling Heights, I’m proud to live in a neighborhood full of both new families and longterm residents. However, in recent years, the rise of short-term rentals has threatened the very fabric of neighborhoods like mine across Michigan.
These short-term rentals price out families from the housing marketplace, prevent workers from finding homes, and threaten neighborhood and downtown vibrancy as they remain unused and dark for many days of the year. A one-size-fits-all solution for regulating short-term rentals across the state will not work. This is why we need local control. While short-term rentals offer many benefits to travelers and property owners, there are compelling reasons why they should be subject to responsible local regulation.
First and foremost, the explosion of short-term rentals across Michigan has raised concerns about housing availability and affordability. In many Michigan cities, long-term rental units — like apartments — are being converted into short-term rentals, increasing housing costs and decreasing available housing for local residents. The current generational housing shortage is particularly problematic for young families, service workers, and vulnerable populations who find themselves pushed out of neighborhoods they have called home for years.
Additionally, housing availability and affordability are essential to attracting workers to our communities. As Governor Whitmer’s ‘Growing Michigan Together Council’ observed in their report, “The lack of desirable housing and housing availability… has negatively impacted businesses’ ability to recruit and retain staff.” Short-term rentals are great for vacationers and tourists, but take valuable worker housing out of the mix — with rentals dormant for weeks out of the year. This directly impacts local economies and harms Michigan’s competitiveness.
In Sterling Heights, the current housing shortage is acutely felt by young families looking for a place to live. Traditionally, many would move into ‘starter homes’ to begin their life together. With fewer homes available across the state, these families are frequently priced out of the available housing stock. The housing situations in Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Traverse City and Sterling Heights are all very different. The city councils of these communities are in the best position to understand the impact short-term rentals are having on their communities and can regulate them appropriately.
Regulation and oversight are vital to ensure the safety and quality of short-term rentals. Local authorities must have the ability to enforce safety codes and ensure that short-term rental properties meet the same quality and safety standards a resident would expect from a long-term rental or a hotel. Moreover, smart regulations can address the nuisance issues that may arise when unregulated short-term rentals are used as party houses, disrupting the peace and security of our neighborhoods.
I’m proud to live in such a diverse state and I want to ensure our communities have the ability to preserve the unique character and stability of our neighborhoods. Local control of quickly proliferating rental properties is one way we can preserve this integrity. We need legislation that allows for more flexibility among local lawmakers to address issues related to short-term rentals.
I urge our state legislators to support a bill that safeguards local control through responsible and locally driven regulation. With this, we can strike a balance among all lodging options, ensuring our communities remain vibrant and livable places for generations to come.