Is your Margate, Atlantic City or Brigantine home right next to a busy AirBnB rental? A growing number of angry homeowners are increasingly saying YES….and they don’t like it one bit. How do we fix that problem?
Under a proposed bill being considered, any NJ homeowner offering short-term rentals with Airbnb, must register with their municipality, or face a stiff fine of $100 a day.
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Homeowners, especially in Brigantine, Ventnor and Margate, are increasingly agitated by AirBnB rentals.
Investing their nest egg into a 2nd home along the Jersey shore, many thought they bought into a single-family zoned, seashore neighborhood. But if you have an AirBnB property close by, it’s like living next door to a busy commercial hotel or motel.
Many, like us, enjoy Internet-based conveniences like UBER for cab service and AirBnB for home & apartment rentals. But, these digital tools can create unfair and potentially unsafe situations. Most common is that UBER & AirBnB are not bound by laws & regulations that traditional services must abide by.
Brigantine Councilman Vince Sera is taking heat from Atlantic County taxpayers.
Sera, who’s gunning for an assembly seat his November, is against stricter & safer AirBnB laws. Oddly, he’s opposing the updating of rental rules that would ensure public safety and financial fairness.
On Tuesday May 2, Brigantine Councilman Sera called into WOND Radio. The former lifeguard is fighting against a bill that encourages municipalities like Brigantine to monitor and enforce rental compliance. Sera says Brigantine doesn’t want to be financially burdened by hiring someone to check for these illegal, potentially unsafe, short-term rentals.
According to NJ1015.com, Joe Simonetta, a lobbyist for the New Jersey Hotel & Lodging Association, said the tourism industry supports home-sharing sites but that “the Uber of property rentals” needs regulation.
“People are renting these places for a night or two nights and then putting a party invite online. Next thing you know the neighborhood is inundated with a hundred, 150 cars,” Simonetta said.
Read More: NJ lawmakers take step toward taxing Airbnb and home-sharing rentals
Airbnb has been plagued by criticism and litigation from hotel groups, property owners, residents and governing bodies.
Brigantine & Margate home owners like the extra cash from selling directly to vacationers. These summer travelers want cheaper alternatives to hotels & properties pitched by Real Estate agents.
Airbnb seems trustworthy and safe, but there’s certainly a fair amount of risk when letting strangers into your house. This issue is not very good for the neighbors either.
Airbnb takes a 6-12% guest service fee PLUS a 3% host service fee for each transaction. But they still place most of the burden of complying with the law, with the homeowner.
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