HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment Erika Cabin in Tahoe Donner Judy Price
From: Erika Cabin in Tahoe Donner <cabintahoedonner@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2020 12:46 PM
To: Judy Price
Subject: Re: vacation rental rules
You can include them though I feel that I'm just wasting my time. Please include the many suggestions I made
in previous emails.
We owners can't enforce these rules, and similar rules enacted in Tahoe Donner have been ineffective. More
complaints than ever this summer. The rules made it worse, not better.
if the Town does not address the fact that booking platforms have stripped owners of their ability to enforce
rules or security deposits, things will get worse not better, GUARANTEED.
On Fri, Aug 28, 2020 at 12:32 PM Judy Price <JPricegtownoftruckee com>wrote:
Erika,
Do you want your comments included on the Town's website regarding the short term rental draft regulations?
From: Erika Cabin in Tahoe Donner<cabintahoedonner@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday,August 28, 2020 12:11 PM
To:Anna Klovstad <AKlovstad@townoftruckee.com>
Cc: Hilary Hobbs<HHobbs@townoftruckee.com>; Dan Wilkins<DWilkins@townoftruckee.com>
Subject: Re:vacation rental rules
It is extremely disappointing to see this, as none of my suggestions have been incorporated despite my
extensive experience with this niche.
This doesn't even have the photo ID and signed contract requirements that Placer apparently adopted:
https://www.townoftruckee.com/government/town-manager/short-term-vacation-rental-ordinance-and-permit-
rp ogram
What this will do is make the situation worse. People will like me won't be in business anymore, and people
who push the edges will get all the business. As well, enforcement is far more expensive than prevention.
It is getting difficult for me to want to contribute TOT to the Town anymore and considering my options for
how not to rent my house anymore at all.
Really maddening to spend so much time giving careful well thought out feedback and then see this list.
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On Sun, Aug 9, 2020 at 8:07 AM Anna Klovstad<AKlovstad@townoftruckee.com>wrote:
Erika,
These are excellent points. I was not aware VRBO had these limitations. I was aware they do not collect the
TOT and I can see how renters would feel surprised by that.
Hilary,
While I recognize we do not have influence over VRBO policy, what can we do in our regulations to help
protect our community on these issues?
Thank you.
Anna Klovstad
Vice Mayor
Town of Truckee
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 582-2924
On Aug 8, 2020, at 6:38 PM, Erika Cabin in Tahoe Donner<cabintahoedonner@gmail.com>
wrote:
Dear leaders of Town of Truckee,
Please see the email that I've sent below. Responsible vacation rental owners need your help in
enforcing rules here. VRBO and Airbnb have taken away our ability to enforce even the most
important rules, such as garbage disposal and noise. We need the rules listed below so that we
can push back with the reckless policies of the booking platforms:
Thank you
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Erika Cabin in Tahoe Donner<cabintahoedonner(cr��,gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 8, 2020 at 2:20 PM
Subject: vacation rental rules
To: <hhobbs o,townoftruckee.com>
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Hi Hilary,
Are you now in charge of the process for input on possible rules for STR? I have been renting
my house for 16 years and am very troubled by changes made by the booking platforms in
recent years.
I believe we need all of the following as requirements so that responsible owners can push
back with booking platforms:
1. photo ID government issued of at least the booking guest.
Airbnb does virtually no verification of guests, who often turn out not to be who they said they
were or have a criminal history readily available online, etc. If a guest comes and trashes the
house and neighborhood,there is no legal recourse without knowing who they are. also
provides deterrence value
2. security deposit taken off platform
neither platform now collects the security deposit at the time of booking. Security deposits
provide an incredibly important deterrent that has been eviscerated by the greed of Airbnb and
VRBO. (they pretend to collect them but do not collect or enforce them)
3. Security cameras at all entrances to the home, including the garage
VRBO banned me from their platform because I would not remove the camera in my garage.
Our garage is a major entry point to the house. Without it, there is no way to ensure people
adhere to occupancy limits. There also was a huge bear in my garage a few weeks ago.
Cameras are needed for safety reasons.
All owners should check their cameras when guests check in and periodically throughout the
stay to make sure guests are following rules. I saw guests over the winter leave kitchen trash
on the front deck next to their two year old's stroller! due to cameras, I was able to intervene to
prevent a tragedy.
4. Full guest list with full names and ages of all children. If there are occupancy limits
imposed, the guests should be held to their list of all times of day or night. Otherwise they feel
free to invite "20 of their friends" who are "just visiting"
5. Signed contract/HOA rules - Airbnb now forbids us to exchange documents with the guests.
6. Please require Airbnb to put a line item for collection of TOT. It is outrageous that they have
not done so to date. Guests do not understand they need to pay tax and get angry when asked to
do so even if stated in the listing, because it was not stated on the rates they see up front.
7. All rules should be required to be stated(provide specific language) in any advertisement of
any kind. Many owners are skirting rules right now by letting guests assume whatever they
wish. This creates unfair competition for those of us who are trying to be responsible and
enforce community standards. We come across as "heavies" and people book the "anything
goes" house instead.
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These rules are essential for screening out problem guests at the booking stage, rather than
squandering precious resources on enforcement later.
How can I be heard on these issues?
thanks,
Erika
7.
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