Gilford to have meeting on Short Term Rentals Monday

[TiltonBB]

I don't know what situation or problems prompted this discussion in Gilford but I would be against substantial changes or over regulation.

Many of the motels and waterfront rentals in the area have become owner occupied condos and created a shortage of places a that a family can vacation on the lake. The opportunity for families to enjoy the area (and spend money at local establishments) should not be taken lightly.

I have a home on the lake in Gilford that is a weekly rental in the summer and then one tenant occupies it for the winter. I have been renting this house out since 2004. I am very aware of what is going on at the house all summer because I live next door.

There are laws in place for noise, parking, fireworks, and any number of other things that may be a problem. I think the existing laws are adequate to stop any problems, should they occur.

[fatlazyless]

As you probably know, the Town of Conway NH is a mount washington valley town with a population of about ten thousand residents and a lot of second vacation homes and it done gone and did this ..... http://www.conwaynh.org/wp-content/u...ted-by-BOS.pdf ..... ...... about five pages .... rules .... str's .... December 2020

[Descant]

Perfect timing-so many of the folks who own such properties have rented for the winter and gone south. Can the Selectmen do this, or does it require Town Meeting vote?

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I don't know what situation or problems prompted this discussion in Gilford but I would be against substantial changes or over regulation.

Many of the motels and waterfront rentals in the area have become owner occupied condos and created a shortage of places a that a family can vacation on the lake. The opportunity for families to enjoy the area (and spend money at local establishments) should not be taken lightly.

I have a home on the lake in Gilford that is a weekly rental in the summer and then one tenant occupies it for the winter. I have been renting this house out since 2004. I am very aware of what is going on at the house all summer because I live next door.

There are laws in place for noise, parking, fireworks, and any number of other things that may be a problem. I think the existing laws are adequate to stop any problems, should they occur.

I don't know what the specific regulations are in Meredith, but if the home five doors away from us is any indication, those laws are likely weak or poorly enforced (or maybe the immediate neighbors have simply given up). This home is rented throughout the summer to many one or two-week renters. Some are quiet but others make up for that with loud gatherings that extend to 1:00 AM and beyond, and at times unsafe boating. Police have been called and the owner talked to by neighbors but that hasn't really achieved a whole lot given the homeowner's absentee status. We're just far enough away to not be overly bothered by it but I sure wouldn't want to live next door.

I think effective regulation is key and I like the sort of ideas that Sunseeker suggests where there is a strong incentive to not exceed certain levels of tolerance (effectively giving nearby neighbors hope). I agree, don't over regulate. But there's a need for reasonable laws and repercussions that sting if they aren't followed.

[John Mercier]

If history is any clue... it will be an ongoing issue.
Each time those engaged in the activity will counsel for limited restriction and not going overboard; but over time it will increase until it is overwhelming.

They seldom hit hard enough to end the problem, they just coax it along with a new bandage every time it springs a leak.

[Winnisquamer]

We should definitely make Gilford more like Laconia…. Aka less desirable.

[Descant]

Without knowing for sure, I think most rental places in Gilford would be part of an HOA where there would already be rules and an enforcement process. I'm thinking about places like Lake Shore Park, Winnstock and Broadview. Other places, such as described by Tilton BB seem just fine as is. Loud party music is just (unfortunately) a current fact whether it be nightclubs, parties or wake boats.

Oh, for the peaceful times when you just carried a boom box on your shoulder.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by Descant

Without knowing for sure, I think most rental places in Gilford would be part of an HOA where there would already be rules and an enforcement process. I'm thinking about places like Lake Shore Park, Winnstock and Broadview. Other places, such as described by Tilton BB seem just fine as is. Loud party music is just (unfortunately) a current fact whether it be nightclubs, parties or wake boats.

Oh, for the peaceful times when you just carried a boom box on your shoulder.

LSP rules are NO renting. Now saying that I would be very surprised that people aren't

[stynx55]

We have a year round home that we don't rent. We try to be up every weekend, hopefully to retire in the future. People near us rent their house on BNB website. It sucks, the majority of time it is a younger crowd who could care less about the rules, I am tolerant person but its getting old. YMMV.

[DUFF821]

Hi.
Just curious. If Gilford does implement rules on short-term rentals, would it apply to all zones or just residential?

[John Mercier]

Depends on what the regulation states.

[tis]

Jeb Bradley is sponsoring a new bill regarding this. You might want to look into it.

[frank m.]

https://legiscan.com/NH/text/SB249/2022

[Descant]

Originally Posted by frank m.

https://legiscan.com/NH/text/SB249/2022

I'm curious as to how this will deal with pre-existing zoning.

[FlyingScot]

Having now read the link--separate from this specific issue--these laws where states limit what towns can do (or the feds limit what states can do) really bug me. It's one thing if it's some big fundamental issue, like the right to vote or other constitutional stuff. But why should someone in Concord be telling a town what is or is not right for that town on something as mundane as short term rentals. Furthermore--why do they even care about this at a state level?

I wrote before that as someone who rented short term for years (decades), I think they are generally good. But this whole thing looks like AirBnB and other big business interests pressuring towns via the state. F them

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

Having now read the link--separate from this specific issue--these laws where states limit what towns can do (or the feds limit what states can do) really bug me. It's one thing if it's some big fundamental issue, like the right to vote or other constitutional stuff. But why should someone in Concord be telling a town what is or is not right for that town on something as mundane as short term rentals. Furthermore--why do they even care about this at a state level?

I wrote before that as someone who rented short term for years (decades), I think they are generally good. But this whole thing looks like AirBnB and other big business interests pressuring towns via the state. F them

I don't think the State or City would really care if there was an abundance of affordable workforce housing... Unfortunately, there is a huge shortage of affordable housing and short term/airbnb/vrbo investors gobble up what little inventory is left thus driving the prices even higher. While it might be financially beneficial to an investor, the neighborhood pays the price.

Woodsy

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

I don't think the State or City would really care if there was an abundance of affordable workforce housing... Unfortunately, there is a huge shortage of affordable housing and short term/airbnb/vrbo investors gobble up what little inventory is left thus driving the prices even higher. While it might be financially beneficial to an investor, the neighborhood pays the price.

Woodsy

I don't think this has anything to do with low cost workforce housing not being available. We're talking about short term vacation rentals--expensive shorefront where the owner wants to offset high taxes and get a little cash flow when he is not using the property. As a side effect, this may benefit workforce housing. Owners who can't get the high summer rents will rent September through May for cheap just to keep somebody in the house, heat on, no vandalism, snow cleared, etc.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Descant

I don't think this has anything to do with low cost workforce housing not being available. We're talking about short term vacation rentals--expensive shorefront where the owner wants to offset high taxes and get a little cash flow when he is not using the property. As a side effect, this may benefit workforce housing. Owners who can't get the high summer rents will rent September through May for cheap just to keep somebody in the house, heat on, no vandalism, snow cleared, etc.

It does though. It is not just waterfront or even water access communities like Suissevale/ Balmoral etc. 5-10 years ago you may put a house in the rental program and done a winter rental. VRBO and Home Away have made it so easy to do short-term rentals, that most rentable houses are gobbled up by investors and rented out weekly.

My son is moving on Sunday , it took 6 months to find a decent place that was semi-reasonable. He is a manager at a parts store, he is local workforce. There is nothing out there.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Descant

I don't think this has anything to do with low cost workforce housing not being available. We're talking about short term vacation rentals--expensive shorefront where the owner wants to offset high taxes and get a little cash flow when he is not using the property. As a side effect, this may benefit workforce housing. Owners who can't get the high summer rents will rent September through May for cheap just to keep somebody in the house, heat on, no vandalism, snow cleared, etc.

The businesses that want labor September to May want year round labor. The summer tourism businesses need labor from May to September. Lots of summer closed early or curtailed their hours, many of the year-round are running on overtime
employees to the point of near failure.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

I don't think the State or City would really care if there was an abundance of affordable workforce housing... Unfortunately, there is a huge shortage of affordable housing and short term/airbnb/vrbo investors gobble up what little inventory is left thus driving the prices even higher. While it might be financially beneficial to an investor, the neighborhood pays the price.

Woodsy

Just to be clear--the bill in the link prohibits towns from banning short term rentals--it is a pro AirBNB bill. It will drive up the price of workforce housing as you warn

[Phantom]

It still is not clear to me the definition of "Short Term Rental" -- ???

1-3 days?
1 Week ?
<30 Days ?


For example, our condo association restricts/ prohibits "Rentals" of less than 30 days.

.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by Phantom

It still is not clear to me the definition of "Short Term Rental" -- ???

1-3 days?
1 Week ?
<30 Days ?


For example, our condo association restricts/ prohibits "Rentals" of less than 30 days.

.

Since the bill prohibits the prohibition of short term rentals, and nobody has ever discussed restricting long term rentals, this distinction does not really matter. All of the time periods in your post would be allowed in every town. (FLL might note that hourly rentals would be OK too)

But you raise a great point--this lack of definition leading to everything being allowed everywhere is another sign that this is driven by corporate interests, not citizens.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Phantom

It still is not clear to me the definition of "Short Term Rental" -- ???

1-3 days?
1 Week ?
<30 Days ?


For example, our condo association restricts/ prohibits "Rentals" of less than 30 days.

.

If you "Lease" for 6 months+, no room and meals tax. Anything less, yoi're supposed to put your license # in the "for rent" ad and pay the tax. To me, that means anything less than 6 months is short term. It looks like the bill prevents cities/towns/Country (sic) from zoning out short term rentals, but your HOA can still do whatever the members approve.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Phantom

It still is not clear to me the definition of "Short Term Rental" -- ???
1-3 days?
1 Week ?
<30 Days ?
For example, our condo association restricts/ prohibits "Rentals" of less than 30 days.
.

From NH RSA 48-A:1

Vacation rental" or "short-term rental" means any individually or collectively owned single-family house or dwelling unit or any unit or group of units in a condominium, cooperative, or timeshare, or owner occupied residential home, that is offered for a fee and for less than 30 consecutive days. For purposes of this chapter, vacation rental and short-term rental are residential uses of the property and do not include a unit that is used for any nonresidential use, including retail, restaurant, banquet space, event center, or another similar use.

A one month or 30 day limit is not required. If a municipality desires to regulate housing through their zoning ordinance it may define the term however it chooses.

I understand that whatever comes out of the current discusions in Gilford will need to go before a Town Meeting to be voted upon.

[John Mercier]

Supposedly he is trying to make amend it.
But the problem isn't a group of State Senators... elected officials are running smack into a labor housing shortage.