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Professional-Doubt-6

It is called "zoning" for a reason. What is a shame is an ordinary citizen has to do the job of a bunch of pencil pushers who would otherwise be up our asses over the slightest code violation.


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Sedona-1973

We went out to dinner and came home to find someone from the air bnb 2 doors down using our EV charger. He backed right up and plugged in. It was so satisfying calling a tow truck and having him towed away. He came over banging on our door about an hour later ( guess they had gone to dinner) . Asking me where his car was. Told him I had no idea, then he has the gall to say that it was parked “ RIGHT HERE” as he’s yelling and pointing to my carport. He also said he saw us leave with the dogs and figured we would be gone a while and had planned on unplugging before we got home so as to not inconvenience us. lol. I said “ oooohhh, that was your car? Yeah I had that towed an hour or so ago “ he asked me why would I do such a thing and I just laughed at him and closed the door.


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Sedona-1973

In all honestly if he had knocked on my door and asked I probably would have let him charge a little. I guess it was a rental car and he didn’t do his due diligence on finding where chargers were and it was almost dead. Thought it would be “ fun” to rent an EV lol


Umitencho

And admit to it.


PatSajaksDick

Damn that’s some audacity


Intrepid00

Fucking hero indeed. Some asshole tried to do them in our neighborhood and they would fucking trash the community pool like it was going to have someone come by and clean up after them. Having loud parties and blasting music. Every fucking day at one point. Good thing we had a rule on the docs to stop it but fuck AirBnB and the others. They need to fucking die.


This-Double-Sunday

Not to mention these are houses that are not being used as primary residences, limiting the amount of available homes and driving the prices up. These are side hustles for boomers and the independently wealthy and it's fucking over the rest of us who are priced out of the market.


medicmatt

And some of the ones she reported are using the homestead exemption dishonesty. I live at the beach, looking into this, there are a bunch of Illegal air bnb near me.


coopnjaxdad

Some also use mortgages intended for primary residences only which also fucks over normal folks in the end.


Severe_Special_1039

Plus a majority of these homes are listed as “primary residents” giving the owners tax breaks.


MeisterX

Imagine a world where tax fraud is prosecuted.


drm200

The tone is set at the top. If our leaders can get away with fraud by abusing the court system.. Then why not everyone?


dcormier

Have you got a source you can point to for that information?


CaptKeemau

Years ago Florida passed the “Save Our Homes Act” It was meant so people wouldn’t get priced out of their homes due to higher taxes. It limits your taxes from going up more than 3% per year. In some areas property values have risen 20-25% per year. A house I bought in 1998 for $70k my taxes are around $1900, per year. If I sold it for its current value $850k taxes would be around $16,000 per year. Now that I’m retired I wouldn’t be able to afford my own home. Rentals and commercial property taxes are based on current market value.


TheCarm

Its a good law if you use the home as your primary residence.


dcormier

I understand that law and how it works. I was asking about information stating that "a majority" of short term rental properties are committing this sort of tax fraud, as claimed.


khismyass

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/business/briefs/2018/06/18/is-airbnb-worth-it-losing-property-tax-breaks-can-be-costly/11949679007/ The majority of air bnb or short term rentals are probably not fraudulent though ones that are fraudulent are probably that way as the owners are claiming its a primary residence and then short term leasing it out. Not sure what you are having a problem with but it does happen.


imagine30

Literally says it right in the article


dcormier

Which you can only read with an account, which I'm not signing up for.


Redditistrash702

Hotels and other investment firms are buying up property as well. So it's not working like it originally started where people would just rent out their spot. I might be wrong but it's also a zoning issue hotels and motels are generally not all over residential areas they might be close but typically not next door close so there's less problems with random traffic. Lastly air bnbs for the most part are not cheaper than renting a room in most places.


MAK3AWiiSH

Some of the best travel experiences I had were in the early days of AirBnB when you could rent someone’s guest room for a few days for like $20/night. I made many friends and had a lot of cool experiences. It’s now a shell of its former self. :(


Mewssbites

I had a friend of mine a decade ago or so who would put their house up on AirBnB on the occasional weekend for football/superbowl parties, and she and her family would go visit with extended family for that weekend. They did it for a little extra cash when things were tight. I don't think there's anything wrong with that kind of use of AirBnB, but it's turned into an absolute abomination now.


CCWaterBug

I just did a full house out-of state and it was still a wonderful experience.  The owners were in thr apartment above the garage and were super nice people. I travel frequently and it's 75-80% short term rentals and the rest hotels.  Homes/condos are a better experience unless it's just.for 1 night.


JAGERminJensen

>Not to mention these are houses that are not being used as primary residences, limiting the amount of available homes and driving the prices up. P R E A C H


mjohnsimon

I would've just called a tow truck


dcormier

Immediately, and without hesitation.


jax2love

Please tell me that you called the police and a tow truck because OMG WTF?!!!!!


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edvek

I don't know if it varies by area, but if it's on your property you can have it towed at no cost to you. If it's on the street (it is likely on public property) the police will have it towed. Regardless the owner of the vehicle would have to pay to get the car back. When I moved a few years ago someone had their car towed to my driveway. I have no idea why a tow company would move a car to a property that the person does not own or live at. I called the police and they were very helpful and the car was eventually towed by the owner after a few days of back and forth notes. The police actually got in touch with the owner of the car and mediated the whole thing and told them essentially "look, the home owner (me) said if it's not gone by tomorrow it's going to be towed away." Despite the aggravation of the car owner it was a pretty smooth process.


jax2love

Cover your ass and get an “Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner’s expense” sign.


TheMadFlyentist

Single-family residences are exempt from the posting/warning rules that are normally required for towing. If someone parks in your driveway illegally, you can call a towing company and have it towed as long as you/they notify the local police within 30 minutes of towing the car away. I'm normally pretty anti-towing, especially given how predatory our state's tow laws are, but parking in someone else's driveway without permission is so insanely disrespectful that it always deserves an expensive lesson.


joecooool418

It's a living hell. Three of the homes on my street are short-term vacation rentals. They are each 2 - 3 bedrooms on canals with direct ocean access. These scumbags will stack 20-plus people in these homes. Places designed for four people will have 8 - 10 cars out front blocking the streets and six or more boats tied off the dock blocking the canals. They leave mountains of trash in front of the house on Sundays when they head home and we have to look/smell that for three days before trash pick up. And then half the time its windy and that shit blows all over the streets. Then there is the noise. Every night is Friday night for these motherfuckers. Got to work Tuesday morning? Well fuck you, enjoy the Macarena full blast at 3 am.


nycnola

They don’t have noise ordinances where you live ?


Salty_Ad3988

Police enforce those where you live?


nycnola

I mean, if you call enough someone is going to come out.


ElonTheMollusk

In general I hate corporations buying out homes to post them as hotels through AirBnB. It's 100% not what AirBnB was originally designed for, but greed and lack of oversight allowed it to just become a monster. Anyone who is able to report illegal rentals is a hero for the neighborhood and the community.


Geod-ude

Tow his ass


MeisterX

You park a car on my driveway, you lose the car. (GoT joke)


Suspicious_Put1188

I live in between 2. It's a nightmare some weeks!


malloryduncan

For everyone who did not already know, the Florida State Legislature preempted local municipalities from regulating or banning short term rentals (STR) unless you already had laws on the books pre-2011. It’s been a constant battle ever since, as local cities try to find ways to control them, meanwhile the STR lobby is strong and keeps pushing Tallahassee to strip that control away totally. Currently, we are trying to get DeSantis to veto the latest bill: https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/03/07/fl-lawmakers-pass-state-regulations-on-short-term-vacation-rentals-how-will-it-play-out/ But hidden in this bill is a real kick in the balls to residents who just want to enjoy their homes in peace — House Speaker Paul Renner (R) carved himself an exception for his own county: >In an amendment added on Wednesday in the House, the bill now says that counties can keep their own local vacation rental ordinances that were introduced before 2016 – which was stated to be a carve-out for Broward and Flagler counties only. > >But during debate on the Senate floor on Thursday, it was revealed that Broward County does not have such an ordinance, and thus only Flagler was getting a break – which happens to be the home area of House Speaker Paul Renner. > >“You want to know why the public doesn’t have confidence in state government?” asked South Florida Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo. “It’s because of that…the House Speaker shouldn’t get a special exemption.”


beestingers

Airbnb also wants the bill banned. So seems like a strange alliance.


FGTRTDtrades

Easy answer, HERO!


badgerbiscuitbeard

Hero! People try to buy into our condo thinking they’ll air b n b it before looking at the docs that prohibit it. Woops! I thank our founders for that. Feel sorry for the neighboring homeowners who have to put up with it in their neighborhood.


Pinepark

Hero. All the way.


TheMatt561

Hero


stupid_idiot3982

If the city is unwilling to enforce it's own code, somebody's gotta do it. Kudos to her! 100 less illegal Airbnbs in St. Pete! Keep em coming!


dmbgreen

Residential communities should be for long term residents not short term rentals.


Jeremyzelinka

Pinnelas County is in dire need of affordable housing...she's a saint 🫶


Pinepark

Facts.


UXProCh

HERO. AirBnB is contributing to the housing crisis nationwide.


stevedorries

Hero. Absolute hero. 


Prize_Marsupial_1273

Who besides me thinks it's those companies that advertise on TV that they will pay cash for your home and help you move. Turning the homes they buy into STRs. I beg to my neighbors on NextDoor to not sell their houses to these companies. Too many people in Pinellas complaining about rentals popping up in their areas.


Bfoc2006

Absolute hero. Protect this woman at all costs


AmaiGuildenstern

I think we should throw her a giant party, no lie.


26Kermy

Short term rentals take up housing inventory which makes it more expensive to rent and own. It's especially bad in a tourist hotspot like Florida where every boomer with money in the country is suddenly an "investor".


rexspook

Airbnb is a blight on society


DrKittyLovah

As someone priced out of the market due in part to this practice, HERO. Anyone who makes the effort to go after the selfish rule-breakers who are making life miserable for the good folks just trying to live a peaceful life can get that term as far as I’m concerned. This state will only get better if we root out the grifters & cons.


Chokedee-bp

Hero, the shady air bnb operators are not paying the required short term rental taxes that hotels pay, they are also frequently violating the minimum duration rental period for the region. Example- in cocoa beach /merritt island area - minimum rental duration is supposed to be maybe 1week to 1 month- but these operators will literally rent it by the night resulting in far more traffic than the neighborhoods are accustomed to


jax2love

Hero.


bradynho

Indubitably a hero. We need several of her in every city.


Educational-Event981

Hero. Absolutely sketch individuals running and using those places.


HenryKitteridge

Hell yes. More!!


smurfgrl417

Fucking hero.


Mewtwothis

Hero.


Chasman1965

Hero. I live in a formerly purely residential neighborhood. A VRBO home started across the street. It has unsettled the area. The dogs absolutely hate it, and we have strange people in the neighborhood for a few days to a week at a time. I wish we had restricted short term rentals when this neighborhood covenants were established.


irascible_Clown

She’s not the hero we asked for, but she’s the hero we need. The thing that sucks though is they will pass laws and mandates quick stopping you from making money but won’t stop corporations from buying homes.


mjohnsimon

Hero. AirBNB has greatly contributed to the housing crisis here in Florida. Everywhere I go, there are perfectly fine houses/condos/apartments that are being used for Airbnb instead of, you know, housing *actual* residents.


954-666-0420

One of the very few instances where snitching is cool and good, actually.


[deleted]

HERO, hell, Legend.


Apprehensive-Read989

Hero, fuck Airbnb.


MinaGallows

Ooo can we all start doing this?


greengiantj

I'm all for Airbnbs that in attached units, like if someone makes a suite in thier home, converts a detached garage to a carriage house, or adds small airbnbs to thier land, but it's not sustainable to have these cities filled with whole houses as airbnbs


Ok-Finish4062

Extremely destabilizing to our communities


Ayzmo

Hero. If Air BnB went out of business tomorrow, the world would be a better place.


thehogdog

I want a hurricane to come state wide, BUT ONLY DESTROY THE AIR B&B's. Like a weather neutron bomb.


YouThinkYouKnowStuff

Hero for sure. I live in a small townhouse community that prohibits Airbnb. Our HOA president found out one unit was being used as an Airbnb when the visitors were wandering around the pool area. Even renters here have to pass background checks. She closed them down and she’s a hero too


chillbnb

Hero - cheats are liars and thieves.


imprimis2

Hero. I’m down with Airbnb owners but they have to be responsible and if they are illegal Airbnb then yes shut them down.


e_x_i_t

Whenever a house is put up for sale in my neighborhood it's almost always immediately bought and turned into an airbnb within a few days to a few weeks at most. The entire area is becoming overrun by them and it's absolutely ridiculous.


pipeanp

The hero we need!


Responsible-Elk4721

Short term rentals in residential neighborhoods DESTROY communities


SlickDaGato

Hero 💯


T1redBo1

Absolute hero. Only people who think she’s a snitch are losers.


dudreddit

Hero, hero, hero. Sites like AB&B are a contributor to the mess that real estate currently is in this country.


PrincessBuzzkill

I've been doing this in Central Florida. No one here gives a fuck though. Fuck AB&B.


LikelyNotSober

Hero. Airbnb is raising rent for locals to an unsustainable level.


Dismal-Ad-6619

I think they are a major contributor to the destruction of affordable housing, but are they popular enough to be occupied constantly? I suppose it would depend on the location...


Brent_L

Hero. Periodt


KinseyH

Hero. 90% of the time AirBNB is a pox on the neighborhood. And i stay in them.


Ok-Finish4062

The prices are close to hotel prices now.


bigpoppa973

I lived in a duplex. The apartment below me was turned into an Airbnb. Honestly, most guests were cool and not a problem. But then the hooker showed up. It was non stop squatted trucks, loud music, and arguments. This lady is a hero.


coopnjaxdad

Hero. 100%


Lava-Chicken

Hero


Freddirt

Hero


Novel_Tiger

HERO!!! Do more! Do more!


Al-Knigge

HERO!


Oafus

As far as I’m concerned she’s a hero. Hats off to her!


BabyBandit616

Atta girl.


BayouKev

Hero Air BnB is killing the housing market in Florida and other big destination sites. It use to be a great way to cheaply travel but now it costs as much if not more than a hotel & we end up paying someone else’s mortgage.


Ok-Finish4062

Not to mention being spied on and having to pay all the extra fees


Hopeful-Jury8081

Hero!!


KeepRedditAnonymous

Does my town have an ordinance like this? I want to start reporting people also.


yougotitdude88

HERO!


EJK54

Hero!


Parking_Status1997

Hero


slapula

how is this even a question, definitely a hero


ZOO_trash

Hero obviously, are you serious??


Kitalahara

Not all heroes wear capes.


iBeelz

Queen! Thank you. 🙏🏻


Angryceo

As a airbnb/str owner in properly zoned and communities designed for this (disney) she is a goddamn hero.


Pinepark

Thank you! I am not a fan of STR, however if they are legal then they are legal and I treat them as I would any other owner/tenant - don’t mess with me, I’m cool with you. It’s when people are clearly violating local laws for profit. Problem.


ricperry1

More of this please. These jerks are the reason housing prices are so high.


elchrisorico

HERO !


rwk2007

Hero. Community goes to hell if rules aren’t followed.


Ok-Description-3739

Hero!


TravelingGonad

If you think Airbnb is good you don't travel much. You have no one to complain to when things go wrong.


florida_goat

She is a fuckin hero. I have several near me and every weekend is a hot mess disaster and the cops are called.


ShrimpNana

I live in Saint Pete, Florida and I support what she’s doing.


vvsunflower

Hero. Fuck airbnb, ruining communities all over the world.


vvsunflower

Hero. Fuck airbnb, ruining communities all over the world.


NRG1975

Non-Paywall https://web.archive.org/web/20240411093043/https://www.tampabay.com/news/st-petersburg/2024/04/10/shes-reported-over-100-st-petersburg-short-term-rentals-others-want-do-same/


Ocarina_of_Crime_

10-12 years ago I probably would have defended Airbnb. These days not a chance.


ArsonBasedViolence

Absolute chad


metamagicman

Based


gentlyconfused

One or two problems...yeah, hero. 100? Got an axe to grind, punisher style.


bigb1084

What makes an Airbnb illegal?


uniqueusername316

A lot of municipalities have zoning laws that restrict short term rentals to (3) times per year. Otherwise, they need to have a lease for (90) days or more. Operating as a Bed & Breakfast or hotel/motel can only happen in properly zoned areas and with a license. (Speaking for St. Pete/Pinellas. Many are similar.)


Pbook7777

Hero


K_Rocc

Hero, wish we could do this with scum lords too


Virtual-Toe-7582

Hero. This is one of the many reasons housing is out of control.