Hello, all! As I prep my home for Commissioning Week in Annapolis, I think I am saying goodbye to Airbnb. I have already de-listed my property for all future rentals.
In June, the City Council of Annapolis is putting forward a piece of legislation that will most likely shut down people like me, permanent year-round residents of Annapolis, who want to share their homes via AirBnB or other short-term rental platforms. There are many facets to this legislation that will restrict many aspects of short-term rentals, but for me, the aspect that will shut me down is that all rooms or homes offered for rent must be licensed.
Just get a license, the legislators cheer! Just level the playing field, licensed property owners cheer!
But I own a fix-upper in the Historic District, and despite having survived a renovation where every nut and bolt was inspected by the City of Annapolis, my home would require an extra $20,000 in sprucing to qualify for a license. I ask those that live in older Historic homes, would your home pass a white glove test? Do you, in your own home, comply with all of the extra so-called safety regulations above and beyond what is required by the city for occupancy? Do you have any paint chips around the historic glass in your windows? What about on your siding and porch? What about (drumroll of doom please) your basement and attic? Are those historic steps in your home to code?
I am an AirBnB superhost with an almost 100% 5-star rating, and my home is where I live year round. Isn’t my home, which is reviewed publically every time I have a guest, safer then the homes left alone when their owners winter for months in the British Virgin Islands?
Is there any way that we, as a community of superhosts, who deeply value the entire structure of the sharing economy, can band together and fight off owner-occupied house-share licensing requirements? The room I offer on Airbnb is the room where my mother sleeps when she comes to visit. How is it possible that this room will have to stay vacant when there are so many travelers who want to visit Annapolis, and don't want to have to pay the exhorbitant hotel rates? How is it fair to force a 5-star resource off the market?
Help us, Airbnb! Help us, other superhosts in other Historic Districts! Airbnb wants to take the company public soon, and how can they do this if their superhost base is dropping like flies due to draconian local regulations put in place by peole that "don't want to change the character of their neighborhood"?
I am someone who lives on an extremly tight budget and bikes to work every day. Last year I took in a happy $5000 via AirBnB, and that pretty much represents my disretionary income. With Airbnb, it would take me 2-3 years to save up the shiny copper pennies to comply with local regulations. Without it... tap my retirement accounts? Or scrimp and save each day for 5-7 years while a lovely lovely 5-star room in the heart of the Historic District stays vacant?
So this year, I will swing my front door open with all the warmth in my heart, but as I say hello to my guests, I think I am saying goodbye to AirBnB.
Unless.... ? I would love to hear thoughts, comments, ideas, suggestions! And if you are in Annapolis and want to band together, reach out to me here, or contact Megan Moore at the Easy Street Gallery on Main Street!
Best regards to everyone everywhere who opens their home to strangers.
Susan