ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 26 – AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, the largest hotel owners association in the nation representing 20,000 hoteliers, called for stronger enforcement of short-term rentals in Los Angeles, Calif., in response to a report that Airbnb profits are soaring despite regulations meant to curb illegal listings.
The number of short-term rental listings in Los Angeles has dropped since the city’s 2019 Home-Sharing Ordinance went into effect, which requires residents to register their homes with the city in order to list them as short-term rentals. Residents are also restricted to listing only their primary residences. But numerous illegal listings remain, and hosts are charging higher rates than ever.
AAHOA strongly supports oversight of short-term rentals, including in Arkansas, where AAHOA Members fought legislation that would have prevented local governments from enacting reasonable regulations, and in New York City, where short-term rental hosts must now register with the city to rent their homes or face hefty fines.
“It is unacceptable that so many short-term rentals are operating illegally in Los Angeles at the expense of law-abiding hotel owners, guests, and city residents,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “Given that AAHOA Members in the state of California annually contribute $16.9 billion in total taxes, and nearly $1.9 billion alone in lodging taxes, we believe it is essential that all lodging businesses do their part to lift up the local economy. We urge the Los Angeles government to enact stricter enforcement of the Home-Sharing Ordinance to ensure reasonable oversight of all lodging businesses in the city.”
“The Los Angeles Home-Sharing Ordinance is a step in the right direction, but it’s clear nearly four years after its enactment that it needs stricter enforcement,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “Stricter regulations like in Santa Monica, which requires short-term rental hosts to live on the property during the renter’s stay, or in New York City, which now imposes fines of up to $5,000 on hosts listing illegal short-term rentals, may be warranted to ensure one of the nation’s most popular destinations has a level playing field for lodging businesses. Hotel owners playing by the rules, and guests and residents deserve better.”
