Saratoga Springs is considering regulations for short term rentals (STRs) such as those hosted on Airbnb. This industry needs regulation urgently for the following reasons:
STRs create unaffordable housing by allowing corporations to take affordable single-family homes off the market since they are changing their use to de facto hotels, and some STRs are in direct conflict with Saratoga Springs’ master plan and zoning regulations.
Most important, since it involves safety, and as I mentioned at the recent STR workshop, some STRs have no on-sight management resulting in unsupervised guests and chaotic weekends. For example, Rockland County (Town of Clarkstown), experienced gang members this year renting a STR and filming a music video. This event led to a shootout that left multiple rounds, from multiple firearms, scattered over the neighborhood. This is a fact, and the incident is not isolated, as the Town of Southampton has posted on their website that there have been numerous attempts by gang members to rent STRs in the town. Saratogians would be naïve to think this cannot happen here.
I would suggest a 14-day rule (at least for some neighborhoods) like Southampton has embraced. No STRs less than 14 days but owner-occupied units would be exempt because the owners are present. Our neighboring town of Queensbury has even passed a five-day rule in an effort to stop the weekend chaos. Of course, robust enforcement would also be necessary.
- Respectfully, Tim Coll
