|
SHORT TERM RENTALS? NOTHING BUT
HEADACHES!
By
Jan Bergemann
Published January 11, 2019
The battles between short-term rental companies like AirBNB and
counties, cities and community associations are raging in
courthouses all over the State.
Since the Florida Legislature in its infinite wisdom decided to
disallow local governments from banning and/or regulating
short-term vacation rentals, companies like AirBNB are wreaking
havoc in Florida’s community associations.
Even if some folks think that it’ a convenient way to make some
extra income, they absolutely ignore the interests of their
neighbors.
Not all the persons renting short-term are peaceful families
that just want to enjoy the sun. We had quite some reports of
havoc and annoyance caused by short-term renters in community
associations. Some of the houses rented through AirBNB were even
used to hold public parties with hundreds of participants –
advertised on Facebook etc. – and caused significant havoc in
these communities.
I am not a fan of the community association system, but homes
and condos located in these communities are definitely not made
to accommodate short-term rentals. People living in these
communities want peace and quiet – and not neighbors having wild
parties – or spring-breakers -- in their neighborhood.
I definitely think that the Florida legislature should rethink
their attitude about making laws protecting these short-term
rentals companies and should rather consider the welfare of
peaceful families and neighbors before making decisions caused
by campaign funds!
|
|
 |
Jan Bergemann is president of Cyber Citizens For Justice,
Florida
's largest state-wide property owners' advocacy group.
CCFJ works on legislation to help owners living in
community
|
associations. He moved to
Florida
in 1995 - hoping to retire. He moved into a HOA, where the
developer cheated the homeowners and used the association dues
for his own purposes. End of retirement!
CCFJ was born in the year 2000, when some owners met in
Tallahassee
- finding out that power is only in numbers. Bergemann was a
member of Governor Jeb Bush's HOA Task force in 2003/2004.
The organization has two websites to inform interested
Florida
homeowners and condo owners:
News Website: http://www.ccfj.net/.
Educational Website: http://www.ccfjfoundation.net/.
We think that only owners can really represent owners, since all
service providers surely have a different interest! We are
trying to create owner-friendly laws, but the best laws are
useless without enforcement. And enforcement is totally lacking
in
Florida
!
|
