By Andrew Barnes
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Short-term rentals have become a popular way to find vacation housing, but in Baltimore, residents and local groups who favor Airbnb and similar home-sharing services are in a stand-off with city officials who propose to place more restrictions on owners and leasers.
The focal point is Bill 18-0189, otherwise known as the Airbnb bill or the short-term rentals bill, introduced by Councilman Eric Costello and Council President Bernard C. Young.
In the near future, the City Council will vote on the bill that would place restrictions on short-term rentals in the city, a market that currently is unregulated. These restrictions include limiting the number of properties a renter may operate, as well as extending the city’s 9.5 percent hotel tax to the properties.
Down the road, about 40 miles away in the nation’s capital, the D.C. Council earlier this week unanimously gave preliminary approval to restrictions that critics describe as some of the nation’s tightest limits on short-term rentals. For example, hundreds of D.C. property owners would be prohibited from renting out second homes on a short-term basis.
In Charm City, however, the Baltimore Hosts Coalition, a group of homeowners, small business owners, and concerned citizens, has announced plans to actively fight the proposed regulations in the City Council bill.
Rachel Indek, host and owner of Bmore At Home rental properties in Baltimore, said the main goal of the coalition she helps lead is to keep “short-term rentals safe, legal, and an option” in Baltimore.
Indek said the City Council has not been responsive to coalition requests. The coalition is fighting to add amendments to the bill that would:
1) remove a 60-day cap placed on the number of nights short-term rentals can operate;
2) remove the number of licenses hosts are allowed to purchase;
The cap was removed in an amendment added to the bill in a recent City Council work session. As for the licenses, each license comes with a $100 fee, and must be renewed every year for the short-term rental to legally operate.
“We appreciate the council removing the cap on the number of nights that we can rent,” Indek said. “However, a number of people have multiple properties, which will essentially be shut down as a result of this bill.”
Indek charged that the City Council appears to be more interested in protecting the rights of larger businesses, such as hotels, rather than local residents.
Matt Durrette, another member of the coalition and founder of the rental service BaltimoreBnbs, agreed with Indek but insisted there is still much more work to be done.
“We’re the citizens of this community,” Durrette said. “I would like to have our voices heard.”
Durrett said he joined the coalition because, “This is all for Baltimore. It’s about what we can do to help this city.”
The coalition already has amassed nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition officials hope will force a change to the bill. Despite the coalitions overall disapproval of the bill in its current state, others disagree.
Frank D. Boston III, a legislative lawyer and lobbyist representing the Maryland Hotel and Lodging association, said the amendments added in September’s work session were a “good faith effort” in trying to please all sides of this debate.
“I think the Chair and the sponsor of the bill took as many steps as possible to try to please all of the constituencies,” Boston said.
Councilman Leon F. Pinkett III agreed. He said the bill is a “good balance” between the needs of the coalition and those of the hotel industry in Baltimore.