Dallas Code Compliance Director Pushing For ‘Regulatory Structure’ Over Short-Term Rentals – CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Parties, pollution, and parking: even if you’ve never stayed in a short term rental, you’re probably paying for the problems they can cause.
There are thousands of short term rentals in Dallas, but the I-Team found that most are not registered with the city. Now, for Code Compliance Director, wants to make sure these owners abide by the rules and pay what they owe.
CONTINUE READING: ERCOT interim CEO in North Texas wants to restore confidence after storm-related power outages in February
Aria Smith contacted the I-Team after arriving for her short term rental in October. The travel photographer paid $ 2,500 for a month’s stay in a one-bedroom apartment near the SMU. “I was looking for something nice that I would be comfortable in,” said Smith. But when she pulled up, Smith was dismayed to find a derelict building with signs of structural problems.
“All the stairs are cracked … the second floor is actually going down,” said Smith. “You can see the beams that hold the second floor – some are completely broken, others broken and bent.”
Smith didn’t feel safe there. When the host refused to refund them, they contacted AirBNB and the city of Dallas. Then she learned that the address was not registered with the city. “The person who owns this property has not submitted anything to the city to make this place a short-term rental.”
The I team confirmed that the address is not registered with the city and the owner does not pay hotel occupancy taxes. But this case is not uncommon. Records show that of the more than 2,000 short-term rentals in Dallas, approximately 60% are unregistered.
Carl Simpson wants to change that. The Director of Code Compliance is pushing for new rules for short term rentals – a “regulatory structure” over the industry, as he calls it. His recommendations for the city council include inspections, designated parking, and an on-call agent for each property: someone appointed by the property owner nearby who can respond quickly to minor issues.
CONTINUE READING: North Texan arrested with 3 DWI convictions for murder in fatal DWI crash
“If neighbors complain about noise at 1am, we can get in touch with an agent who can respond to these tenants and take care of those tenants,” said Simpson.
Simpson says it should be the property owner’s responsibility to resolve such issues, not the police or the city. “We need to hold these owners accountable and responsible for their business operations.”
As for Aria Smith’s AirBNB, city inspectors tell I-Team that they have found signs of structural problems, including multiple cracks in the landing and “loose and damaged materials” under the balcony. The owner has 30 days to make repairs.
Smith – who left the apartment a week after she stayed – is warning all short-term owners to do their business properly. “You might think you’re doing a great job, but at some point you will get the wrong person who just won’t accept it … and I am that person.”
An AirBNB spokesman said the company had suspended its listing and given Aria a full refund. As for these unpaid hotel use taxes, Simpson says the owner owes back taxes as well as fines and interest.
MORE NEWS: “I have the feeling that the district has a responsibility to listen to the students,” says Frisco ISD newcomer, frustrated by the rezoning plans
CBS 11 reached out to the Dallas Short Term Rental Alliance for an interview. The organization sent the following statement:
“The Dallas Short Term Rental Alliance (DSTRA) continues to work with City Hall stakeholders and the wider community to come up with actionable and reasonable solutions to problems raised by other Dallas members. Our members take pride in promoting economic activity in areas of the city that do not normally benefit from tourism dollars. This allows us to welcome visitors to the city we love while generating extra income. We are helping to supplement our social security, pay our mortgages, meet rising property tax obligations and improve the general quality of life by reinvesting in our homes and communities, ”said DSTRA member Vera Elkins.
“We came together over a year ago to educate stakeholders about short term rentals and the value they bring to communities, raising awareness of new short term renters about the city’s registration system, and our commitment to Dallas. As good operators, we have also worked with the city and the platforms to stamp out the few bad players. “
“DSTRA has worked on various efforts, advocating a simplified registration system and advocating that platforms like Airbnb and Expedia collect hotel occupancy taxes (HOT) on behalf of the hosts and transfer them to the city. The organization believes that the next steps in this process should be a simplified, standalone registration process for short term rentals with the city and that the city enter into a HOT agreement with the platforms. If these next steps can be taken, the city will have the data it wants and good operators can continue to add value to the city. “
[ad_1]
