Seattle Short Term Rental Operator License Number

[Tom800]

Hi all -

I am trying to register my Seattle short-term rental unit on Airbnb's site. I've gone through all the required steps with the State and City (got my UBI, city business license, etc), and also acquired my Short Term Rental Operator's License and added a unit to it.

However, I'm not clear on *what number, exactly* I am supposed to enter on the Airbnb registration form. Nowhere on the city website is there any mention to a "Short-term rental license number."

I tried to supply the STR OL "Record" in the Airbnb reg form (e.g., STR-OPLI-19-000501) but that entry returned an error. So, I'm assumimg Airbnb is validating my entry against some kind of City of Seattle database. Do I use my customer number? UBI? Other?

I know I'm fully compliant in terms of having paid all my dues and acquired my license. I'm just not understanding what actual number needs to go in the Airbnb form. Would be grateful for anyone's help as I'm just trying to complete this last step, having spent all week fighting with City of Seattle's web tools.

Thanks

Tom

[Lacy8]

Has anyone actually figured out how to display their license number on their listing as Seattle regulations require? I've tried to list it in the description, as there is no specified field, and each time it blocks the number portion, assuming it is a phone number. I have contacted Airbnb about this but haven't heard back.

Thanks!

[Joe435]

I have a similar issue.  I have been a superhost in Seattle for years.   I obtained a business license and a short-term rental license with the City of Seattle, but the Airbnb site will not recognize the license.   I have contacted the Airbnb support team dozens of times.  They say it needs to go to a special department to handle this issue.  No response.  This has been going on for months.

We are now to the point that we need to quit Airbnb and go to VRBO if we want to rent to guests.  Is there any way to get a response from Airbnb?

[Kinga5]

Were you ever able to resolve the issue??? Did Airbnb helped you out finally??

[Norea1]

Did you ever get this issue resolved? I am having the same problem. Airbnb took my listing down even though I have a valid license number.

[Skye15]

Don't be fooled when Airbnb puts a notice on your account that your listing is not being blocked by the City of Seattle from doing STR'S. The City of Seattle will say they had nothing to do with it. That is absolutely not true. City of Seattle specifically has inspectors to send Airbnb an ongoing list of Hosts that are not in compliance, even if you may be. Every Friday, Airbnb goes through that list and downloads it in their data without question. 

Even if you have done everything you thought was correct, Seattle has old programming that does not match up with the ongoing policy changes or deadline dates. The STR office is NOT following up with you or even answering most of their emails because they are barely staffed. It's a loop of inadequacies that your paying for, but not getting supported.  It feels like when your social media account is hacked. 

Once you get on the blocked list because you have chosen to switch from long term to STR's or not, you have an arduous road to get the City to remove & correct you off their blocked list. The City is not properly staffing the STR team or providing adequate tools for them to do their jobs. City Council is proving their intent is only to collect, not to serve.  

It's time that homeowners whom Host at their Primary Residence (their property), WE require more consideration as homeowners in the City of Seattle. We are taxed on out land, the home structure, an ADU, utilities, a hotel tax to the State,  Hotel tax to the city, a city business license fee, a state license fee & a B & O  tax. We are not hotels and do not have the resources to manage like a hotel. Let's do something! 

My STR nightmare: 

I secured my STR license to host guests in my primary residence for 2020, then Covid pandemic caused ALL STR guest bookings to cancel. 

Which was a catalyst  to chose to do long term stays 30+ days at my home.  I chose to quarantine elsewhere.  April 7th, 2021, I decided to renew my STR license & start/ try again for May 2021. But I was blocked by the City of Seattle. 

I live in the suburbs of West Seattle.  I chose to try out STR's to share my home with other Creatives & neighborhood family members, while I traveled &  to assist in preserving the capacity to own my home in a crazy inflated marketplace, i.e.  to sustain shelter in Seattle as an Artist & Writer. 

[Skye15]

It's the City of Seattle. Contact STR on the phone. Contact Tax@seattle.gov by calling them and prompt your way to a real person. Cover yourself with business license, STR license & make sure you are set up with the B & O tax. Then ask for the inspector at STR to take you off their blocked list on their spreadsheet they are sending to Airbnb 

[Nicole2363]

I trink you made the right decision in going to VRBO. We are about to do the same thing. After 4 years as an airbnb superhost, they keep janking us around even thougth we have a current license and not able to host STR only LTR. Airbnb doesn't give a **bleep** about their host at all. In addition you can create an instagram and Facebook account for your vacation property and promote is yourself. Good lucj ya'll we are going to need it.