In a stunning example of fake news, Kristi King of WTOP wrote:

WASHINGTON — Fairfax County, Virginia, is considering whether (or how) to regulate private short-term rentals, such as those facilitated by websites like Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, FlipKey and Roomarama.

Right now, short-term rentals aren’t allowed.

“The zoning ordinance does offer a bed-and-Breakfast special exception, but that requires approval from the board of supervisors,” said Donna Pesto, Fairfax County’s deputy zoning administrator. “We don’t have any of those.”

http://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2017/09/fairfax-regulating-airbnb-rentals/

That may be because Fairfax County charges a modest fee of $16,375.00 just to apply to create a Bed and Breakfast.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/shorttermrentals/shorttermrentals-faqs.htm

If Kristi had checked the AirBnB website, she would have found over 200 short-term rentals, with prices as low as $29 for "Amazing comfort at a great price."

This would be the same Fairfax County that looks the other way when 27 "related" illegal immigrants cram into a two-bedroom.

May be time for Fairfax to consider an ordinance for horses that have already left the barn.

What's your favorite AirBnB in Fairfax County?

Mine is the house in Great Falls for $1,225 a night.

> If Kristi had checked the AirBnB website, she
> would have found over 200 short-term rentals, with
> prices as low as $29 for "Amazing comfort at a
> great price."
>
> This would be the same Fairfax County that looks
> the other way when 27 "related" illegal immigrants
> cram into a two-bedroom.

Many of those who whine about the illegal rooming houses for illegal immigrants are the same ones who would view Fairfax efforts to crack down on AirBnB or regulate AirBnB operations as improper government interference. Yet the justification for regulating one is the same as the justification for regulating the other.

We have an airbnb in our neighborhood. The HOA knocked on the door one day and the tenant showed them a 31-day lease. He was gone the next day.

kbwjk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > If Kristi had checked the AirBnB website, she
> > would have found over 200 short-term rentals,
> with
> > prices as low as $29 for "Amazing comfort at a
> > great price."
> >
> > This would be the same Fairfax County that
> looks
> > the other way when 27 "related" illegal
> immigrants
> > cram into a two-bedroom.
>
> Many of those who whine about the illegal rooming
> houses for illegal immigrants are the same ones
> who would view Fairfax efforts to crack down on
> AirBnB or regulate AirBnB operations as improper
> government interference. Yet the justification
> for regulating one is the same as the
> justification for regulating the other.


Short term rentals are quite different from stuffing 20 people in 1 house.

I'll take an airbnb rental home next to me over an illegal flop house any day. You have to maintain a home reasonably well to have it on airbnb, and as a renter you have to be respectful in order to keep your feedback positive.

Bull shit. Offer a low rate and people will stay there even if it is less than optimal. Safety issues can be just as much a concern for short term renters as they are for those crammed into overcrowded homes and apartments. Neighbors can be adversely affected from your short term rental activity, especially if done on a constant basis.

I would allow them if and only if I can tax all revenue at about 50%.

No one in any decent neighborhood wants transient stays at a house.
I owned multiple houses and would rent each room to someone I found off Craigslist. Each room would b $400-$450/ month with $1600 total every month.
My mortgage was $1200.


The crafty neighbors would befriend the "new guys" just to collide on ways to get rid of them.

Now, as an older homeowner, I feel bad for all the problems I caused for the other neighbors.