“City pondering vacation rentals” plus 1 more

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City pondering vacation rentals Posted: 26 May 2010 12:22 AM PDT The city of St. Helena is following the county's lead by reconsidering its regulations pertaining to vacation rentals. According to City Attorney John Truxaw, the city's municipal code contains no clear prohibitions of vacation rentals — defined as residential rentals for a period of less than 30 days without a use permit — but the reading of several code sections together makes it clear they are illegal. Property owners who rent their property for less than 30 days must obtain a use permit and pay the city a 12-percent transient occupancy tax. But as the county has discovered, violations are widespread and enforcement is difficult. On Tuesday city staff asked the planning commission to consider revising the municipal code to more clearly address vacation rentals. "This has been an issue in the past," Planning Director Carol Poole told the commission. "People have gone online and looked at our code and haven't gone away with the conclusion that they can't rent their houses out (for less than 30 days)." City staff periodically troll the Internet for illegal vacation rentals. In 2004 the city filed an enforcement action against Peter and Paulette Story to abate illegal vacation rentals at a house on Pratt Avenue. The city won and got a lien on the property for collection. Another enforcement action on South Crane Avenue ended in a settlement out of court. Commissioner Alan Galbraith suggested that the city farm out enforcement duties to an attorney from the private sector. Violators could be forced to cover the legal fees for enforcement, which would give the attorney a financial incentive to ferret out violators. Meanwhile, the city could make special permits available to property owners who wish to offer short-term rentals but don't fit the rubric of a traditional bed-and-breakfast, Galbraith said. Planning Commissioner Sandy Ericson proposed that people who have a primary residence in St. Helena could rent out their rooms short-term to help people who can't afford a hotel. Poole will discuss the commission's ideas with the city attorney and report back at a future meeting. No comments posted. Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Safety Rules for Booking a Vacation Rental Posted: 26 May 2010 09:07 AM PDT

The vacation rental is an excellent choice of travel accommodation. Although it doesn't offer the vastness of a hotel, it has several unique features that attract many renters. Booking a rental is also a breeze, especially now with the help of the internet: Just hit up property rentals online and you are good to go. However, ensuring your safety and the safety of your vacation plans is harder. Here are some typical rules that you must follow to avoid getting hoodwinked. Determine your ideal rental property Before you search for the vacation rental, you should first determine your ideal property. There are indeed several vacation rentals online and sifting through them will require herculean strength and not to mention time. You must pigeonhole your search on those properties that fit your requirements. You need two baths and three bedrooms along with a spacious yard and internet connectivity? Focus on properties that offer most, if not all, of those features. Using several resources is tremendously helpful in this matter. Never hesitate to explore other resources that may lead you to the perfect vacation rental. Furthermore, make sure that you plan this ahead to save some time. Check the rules first Vacation rentals should include information rules and regulations. First, you have to know how you can use the home in order to avoid making mistakes. Second, you have to find out how you may be held liable if ever damages are incurred. Lastly, you need to know about refunds in case of emergencies especially Force Majeure. The rules and regulations should be as detailed as possible. But if you find the page lacking the information you seek, feel free to contact the owner or manager for additional clarifications. Avoid scams Finally, know how to develop booking savvy. There are several ways to get tricked online. You must find out the common gimmicks of those fly-by-night managers and owners to prevent financial headaches. Paying with your credit card, for instance, is one way to ensure safety. Your transaction with a credit card is recorded and providers generally provide a level of security. Another is checking out the vacation rental beforehand. That is, if this is logistically feasible. If not, however, take your time investigating the photographs provided or measure the property's validity via the owner's and manager's response to any of your inquiries. Mark Michael Ferrer Vacation Rental

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