Residents and Community Groups Should Support Short-Term Rental Legislation

North End/Waterfront residents and community groups are apparently getting on the bandwagon, supporting their State Representative Bill that would put in place regulations for short-term residential rentals.

 The legislation would empower cities and towns to inspect potential short-term residential units for safety code violations, instruct the Department of Housing and Community Development to keep track of the units being rented for tourist and transient use and mandate that short-term renters pay an excise tax similar to the state’s hotel tax.

Representative Aaron Michlewitz’s legislation would ensure that short-term rentals are safe and secure places that work within the rules and regulations that the hospitality industry already operate under.

Currently, there are no laws regulating such housing and this legislation seeks to make short-term rental units safe and allow for the owners of the properties to be held accountable for any impact the rentals may have on the community.

“For the health and safety of our residents, it is important that we regulate such housing,” Representative Michlewitz said.

We agree and encourage the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) and the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) to write letters of support.