The short-term rental licensing regulations passed in March of 2021 represent a solid compromise on the issue of vacation rental reform in Atlanta. The ordinance discourages property owners from renting out their properties for the purpose of loud and disruptive parties, which is the entire issue people wanted to address. Property owners have the right to use their properties as a means to gain extra income, and some homeowners have purchased extra homes specifically for this purpose. If property owners do not abide by the new regulations, they will face fines for violations.
There have certainly been a few isolated incidents of noise complaints at certain vacation rental properties, but most short-term rentals are just used by out-of-town visitors simply looking for a place to stay. Allowing people to rent out properties on platforms such as Airbnb provides additional income for Atlanta residents, supports the tourism industry in the city and increases competition in the rental marketplace.
Councilman Howard Shook proposed the drastic measure of banning short-term rentals outright, which is a clear indication that the councilman has a vendetta against the industry. Thankfully, this vendetta does not appear to be shared by the rest of the city council. If we allow Shook to make decisions that impact our entire city, then what would happen to people who rely upon the supplemental income they receive from renting out their homes? And how would this lost revenue affect the local economy?
The reforms include stipulations that property owners must make a good faith effort to enforce the city's regulations, but the only way they could possibly guarantee that renters will not break the rules is to stay in the house with them. I don't think most people would be too keen on the idea of renting a house that came with a live-in landlord who would watch your every move. Making a sincere effort to rent to people who they deem reasonably likely to follow the rules is the most we can ethically demand of property owners. Any violations will be reported to the police, and renters should be responsible for paying any resultant fines.
The new regulations are going to be very effective in curbing the use of properties for disruptive parties, which will reduce the amount of nuisance complaints from neighbors. It would not be reasonable to place an outright ban on people renting out their own properties. The ordinance contains sufficient infrastructure to protect the best interests of renters and landlords alike, and it will be a positive change when the rules start being enforced.
