Bill allows homeowners to rent residences on websites

Many tourist destinations in the United States have greatly restricted or completely banned homeowners from renting their properties to vacationers. This has become a popular trend through sharing economy rental services such as Airbnb and VRBO. However, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed a bill into law to stop this.

Jerome, Scottsdale and Sedona are a few areas of Arizona in which the local governments have banned or greatly restricted vacation rentals. In one Jerome case, a man bought a dilapidated historic home with the intent to turn it into a vacation rental. After receiving building and business permits as well as spending hundreds of thousands to restore the property, officials did not allow him to rent it.

The new law, SB 1350, prevents local governments from making outlaws out of responsible homeowners just because they let guests pay to stay in their residences while they are on vacation. The bill, and it was passed into law with immense bipartisan support, making it the first in the United States. It also ensures that any restrictions enforced on vacation rentals are only for real safety and health issues.

Representing homeowners who have been restricted or banned from renting their properties, the Goldwater Institute's executive vice president and author of the model on which the bill was based said that Arizona is known for protecting the rights of private property owners. She believes that this law brings this protection into the 21st century and is a major victory for property owners who wish to use new platforms and technologies to boost their incomes or earn a living.

It is important for people to be familiar with applicable real estate law if they plan to buy, sell or rent properties. As a result, obtaining the services of an attorney in the area could be prudent.

Source: WMI Central, "Bill protects right to rent out home through websites," May 27, 2016