HomeMy WebLinkAbout082724 email - Short term rental input from small local hostALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Hello.
I work full time and host part time so i have missed many opportunities to comment. I hope you have heard from many small hosts like myself. If not i am taking time to provide my
experience.
My grandparents moved to port Townsend in the 70s from Clallem Bay for the sun. My parents followed. Now my parents are gone I purchased their small two bedroom home so that eventually
I can retire too.
I provided housing for many years using a property management company. It was a bad experience for me and my neighbors. Although it is an older house my family kept it in good shape.
After almost every lease the house received major damage replacing carpets, walls, paint clogged drain, damaged heaters due to disregard by the renters and no follow through by property
management. During Covid I switched to renting through air bnb. I don’t charge much, I don’t make much, but my neighbors are much happier. It is a quiet neighborhood and attracts
quiet guests. I can keep the house up, make enough to help pay the bills and be able to use it myself. Jefferson county had a process in place I followed. I paid over $600 for a permit
and had inspections. I pay taxes, insurance and lots of fees. I did everything correctly.
I have invested a lot of money and sweat and time to the house, the guests and my future. Even though I make less income and work much harder then before.
All rentals should be permitted and Air bnb should only list ones that have followed the process. Looking to what other similar Washington state communities have done shows restraint
and common sense. There are good models that don’t eliminate but focus on local single owner hosts.
I provide a good service supporting many young families who are visiting their parents or need to be under one roof. Jefferson county has many areas with no traditional lodges. Airbnb
bnb allows people to stay close to family members especially aging parents vs a 30 minute drive to population centers. Please consider there are many sides to this subject.
Growth plans that increase density like ADU’s, expanding the sewer system and reducing permit and development costs are other ways to encourage affordable housing. Thank you. Colleen
Hackett 206-290-2927