Big Bear Lake 2017 New Regulation requirements for 24/7 agents check-in and response

Michael1178
Level 1
San Diego, CA

Big Bear Lake 2017 New Regulation requirements for 24/7 agents check-in and response

Big Bear Lake is in the process of implementing new requirements for people hosting short-term rentals.  These requirements are making it increasingly difficult and expensive for Hosts to continue to work through AirBnB...thus pushing them toward using the vacation rental companies.  I have tried to summarize what I think are the new key regulations and questions and concerns I have about them.  Wondering if anyone has ideas/hacks on how to comply with new regulations while still participating in AirBnB.   From my initial research, moving away from AirBnB will both reduce gross revenue (bookings) and obviouslhy increase costs due to management fees.  Thanx!

 

This is what I think are the (new) requirements for Big Bear short term rentals:

  • Have a check-in agent (or Host) who is available 24/7 to meet people at the rental property. This person must pass a written test of their responsibilities and execute an affidavit acknowledging responsibilities and associated fines and live within 15 miles of Big Bear Lake.
  • Check-in now includes:
    • Verifying the number of people & cars does not exceed the limit
    • Verify person/credit card with who shows up (difficult on AirBnB since hosts do not know the last name of their guests)
    • Get copy of credit card receipt, and maybe a copy of their ID?
    • Have the renters sign a rental agreement contract
  • Hosts must have someone who can respond to problems 24/7 within an hour. This person must live within 15 miles of Big Bear, pass a written exam, and sign an affidavit accepting these responsibilities
  • Turn in individual contracts (with each renter) and credit card receipt/photo to Big Bear (maybe on a quarterly or semi-annual basis). I guess to prove your receipts and max tax collection
  • Prove we have snow removal service (not a big deal)
  • Have to have an annual re-inspection of rental properties…and you have to stop renting until your annual renewal is done. (not a big deal)

 

My questions/concerns:

  • How to comply with verifying the ID of the person at check-in with who made the reservation. The problem is that Hosts never know the full names of their AirBnB guests (AirBnB removed last names a year ago to avoid host discrimination)
  • How to comply with collecting credit card charge info if using AirBnB since AirBnB processes the payments? Can hosts just provide our AirBnB transaction report which shows what day we collected $’s?  We can print out a report for each month, or any period we select.
  • How to comply with requirement to have them sign a rental agreement/contract, since that is really managed by AirBnB as our 3rd party “agent.” I guess we could come up with a contract, but not sure that is even cool with AirBnB
  • I do not necessarily even know the renter’s real name from AirBnB, AirBnB has that info. So, how do I verify who is really renting the house?

 

126 Replies 126

Matt,

 

im interested in your services. Can you please contact me or provide your direct contact details? 

Sure would be happy to help. Airbnb keeps blocking my contact information. IF you look below my name you can see my company name and maybe search online for my information?

 

 

 

Best,
Matt

DoorMat Vacation Rentals

Hi Deborah, it looks like you are learning the business pretty quick. I am looking to buy a property in Big Bear for the sole purpose to rent on Airbnb. How has your experience been thus far. I would love to hear more about it if you have time. 

 

 

Hi Debbie, give me your contact number as i want to discuss with you on your shorterm rental vacation at big bear. Thanks. 

Hello Nancy,

 

I am a realtor based in LA and I will be having a listing coming up for sale in Big Bear Lake that consists of 5 cabins.  Feel free to contact me if you are still interested in purchasing a rental investment in Big Bear.  My email is[Email address hidden as per the community guidelines] 
.  Cap Rate on these 5 units will be ~ 10-12%

Did you ever find a Co host?  I found one that immediatly changed my listing and quit with in a week .  Said we were not t a good fit.  Code enforcement is going to be a heavy load on all of us.  First they want a yearly inspection or more ,  175-275.  Taxes 11%,  for us they wanted two inspections,  a management Company 30 to 40 %  OR  Inspections plus   A profesional cleaning crew 150.  per clean  1 bed to 4 bed same price plus 11% tax plus supplies, repairs, & snow removal plus 150 a month for being available.  Som e one must live with in 20 miles.

The personal check-in is not strictly enforced but you do have to pay your TOT taxes and you need an emergency on-call person who needs to be trained and register with the city when you get your license. You also need your own business license if you don't hire a management company. If you DO have a management company they will be your 24/7 emergency contact people.  The company I used for a while, had the guests come to their office to pick up keys (no better than a lock box). May I ask which co-host quit? I/m just curious because I interviewed several when I first got my place in Big Bear. Contact Burnetts Mountain Maintenance. They have a facebook page. They can provide more reasonably priced cleaning and the 24/7 emergency contact who's within 15 miles, meet the inspectors and make any as-needed repairs and/or regular maintenance like snow removal or making sure pipes don't freeze between guests. Good luck!

I opened my office off Moonridge road to help people who self manage but need that check in person to check their guest in and a 24 hour contact person. I will have guest sign your contract digitally at my office, I will take picture of their license and email both to you as soon as they check in. At that point I can also give them the lockbox information for your property if you like? 

 

Best,
Matt

DoorMat Vacation Rentals

Irene130
Level 2
Huntington Beach, CA

Hi Michael,

 

I'm also a host in Big Bear Lake and have not heard of any of these new regulations. 

 

Have they taken place as of yet and if not are they definitly going to pass and if so when?

 

I would love any additional information you could kindly share with me on Airbnb and BBL that you think I'd need to know as a new host there. 

 

Thank you so much,

 

Irene 

Here is the new code for City of Big Bear Lake CITY OF BIG BEAR LAKE CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL Effective Date: October 20, 2016 Subject: IN-PERSON CHECK-IN AND 24/7 RESPONSE PERSONNEL TRAINING CERTIFICATION AND RESPONSIBILITY ACKNOWLEGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSIENT PRIVATE HOME RENTAL AGENCIES AND OWNER-MANAGERS PURPOSE The Code Compliance Division is responsible for ensuring that Transient Private Home Rental (TPHR) managing agencies and individual TPHR unit owner-managers are in compliance with the in-person checkin and 24/7 complaint response requirements contained in City Ordinance No. 2007-375. This policy identifies training and certification and responsibility acknowledgement requirements that will be followed to ensure that management agency and owner-manager personnel personally acknowledge that they are assuming responsibility for providing compliant in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response; and, that these individuals have received training specific to the proper performance of in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response as required by City Ordinance No. 2007-375. PROCEDURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY 1. Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this policy and procedure, every TPHR management agency and owner-manager of a TPHR unit registered in the City’s TPHR program as of the effective date of this policy and procedure, shall submit to the Code Compliance Division an “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” (sample of acknowledgements attached) for each individual responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for the TPHR units they have registered. The “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” shall be fully executed by the individual responsible for performing in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response and shall be notarized. In lieu of a notary attachment, the individual executing the “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” may appear personally at the City and present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 2. Within ninety (90) days of the submittal of a registration application for a new TPHR unit by an owner-manager, the owner-manager shall submit to the Code Compliance Division an “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” (sample of acknowledgements attached) for each individual Code Compliance Division Policy and Procedure Transient Private Home Rentals In-Person Check-In and 24/7 Complaint Response Personnel Requirements Page 2 of 3 responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for the TPHR units they have registered. The “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” shall be fully executed by the individual responsible for performing in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response and shall be notarized. In lieu of a notary attachment, the individual executing the “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” may appear personally at the City and present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 3. Within ninety (90) days of the submittal of the first registration application for a TPHR unit being represented by a new TPHR management agency, the new TPHR agency shall submit to the Code Compliance Division an “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” (sample of acknowledgements attached) for each individual responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for the TPHR units they have registered. The “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” shall be fully executed by the individual responsible for performing in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response and shall be notarized. In lieu of a notary attachment, the individual executing the “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” may appear personally at the City and present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 4. TPHR management agencies and TPHR owner-managers are responsible for immediately notifying the City’s Code Compliance Division of changes to their identified in-person check-in personnel and/or 24/7 complaint response personnel. An “Acknowledgement of Responsibility” for each newly identified in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response individual shall be submitted to the City at the time of notification of the change. All rental activity shall be immediately discontinued at a TPHR unit that is not provided with in-person check-in and/or 24/7 response personnel recognized by the City. Such rental activity shall not be recommenced until full compliance with this Section is attained. IN-PERSON CHECK-IN AND 24/7 RESONSE PERSONNEL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION 1. Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this policy and procedure, every TPHR management agency and owner-manager of a TPHR unit registered in the City’s TPHR program as of the effective date of this policy and procedure, shall be responsible for ensuring that each individual responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for their TPHR unit(s) have attended and received a valid “Certification of Attendance” at a City conducted training session. The City will be responsible for conducting training sessions on a quarterly basis each year. Individuals participating in a City training session pertaining to in-person check-in or 24/7 complaint response and shall provide the information requested on a “sign-in sheet” provided by the City prior to the commencement of the training session; and, shall present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division Policy and Procedure Transient Private Home Rentals In-Person Check-In and 24/7 Complaint Response Personnel Requirements Page 3 of 3 Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 2. Within ninety (90) days of the submittal of a new TPHR registration application by an ownermanager of a TPHR unit, the owner-manager shall be responsible for ensuring that each individual responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for their TPHR unit(s) have attended and received a valid “Certification of Attendance” at a City conducted training session. The City will be responsible for conducting training sessions on a quarterly basis each year. Individuals participating in a City training session pertaining to in-person check-in or 24/7 complaint response and shall provide the information requested on a “sign-in sheet” provided by the City prior to the commencement of the training session; and, shall present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 3. Within ninety (90) days of the submittal of the first TPHR registration application by a new TPHR management agency, the management agency shall be responsible for ensuring that each individual responsible for in-person check-in and 24/7 complaint response for their TPHR unit(s) have attended and received a valid “Certification of Attendance” at a City conducted training session. The City will be responsible for conducting training sessions on a quarterly basis each year. Individuals participating in a City training session pertaining to in-person check-in or 24/7 complaint response and shall provide the information requested on a “sign-in sheet” provided by the City prior to the commencement of the training session; and, shall present for inspection by a Code Compliance Division staff member, a current California drivers license, California ID card or other legally recognized form of personal identity verification. 4. TPHR management agencies and TPHR owner-managers are responsible for immediately notifying the City’s Code Compliance Division of changes to their identified in-person check-in personnel and/or 24/7 complaint response personnel. Newly identified in-person check-in and/or 24/7 complaint response personnel shall attend a City conducted training session within 90 days of the date of the execution of their “Acknowledgement of Responsibility”. Questions regarding the application or meaning of any portion of this policy shall be directed to the Director of Community Services for response. City of Big Bear Lake https://www.citybigbearlake.com/index.php/component/easyfolderlistingpro/?view=download&format=raw&d...,,

Hi there!

 

im also interested in learning more about your services if you can message me!

 

Amy

Hi Matt,

 

We are thinking of a vacation rental in Big Bear City. Could you please message me?

 

Thank you

Hi Matt

 

Im interested in your services and would like a little more info please pm me. Thanks!

 -Luis

Nikita26
Level 2
Los Angeles, CA

Hello! 

I had been looking into purchasing a home in Big Bear with the purpose of renting it out via Airbnb. I came across this post which has given me concerns about doing so. I have never heard before of in person check ins being a requirement - is this strictly unforced? Or do most owners still use the lockbox situation? I have rented in big bear myself many times and never came across this system until now. 

I just wanted to see from other owners with properties in big bear who don’t live in the city if it’s still do able or is it becoming a hassle with all the new rules. 

Thank you,

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