LATEST RENTAL HOUSING RIP-OFF!

SHORT TERM RENTAL ABUSE DESTROYING D.C. AFFORDABLE HOUSING!

AIRBNB AND OTHER "BREAD & BREAKFAST" COMPANIES HAVE

TAKEN 1000+ UNITS OFF MARKET 

FOR 

USE AS 

VACATION RENTALS

     Landlord greed and actions by commercial real estate agents are ripping off rent-controlled housing big time.  Taking advantage of loopholes in short term rental laws designed to protect neighborhood quality of life, landlords and realtors - through Airbnb and other Bread-and-Breakfast type companies -  are renting rent controlled units as expensive vacation rentals. This poses another peril to affordable housing in the District. Having taken upwards of a thousand units off market as a start, expect a stampede that can potentially destroy what remains of the affordable housing stock in the District.  

     Residential buildings have become makeshift resorts, with vacationers holding loud parties, harassing tenants and disrupting the peace and quiet of residential areas.   Worse, this abuse is turning the intent of the rental laws on its head. The purpose of rent control is to preserve affordable housing stock for low and moderate income people in the midst of expensive urban living.  The ongoing affordable housing crisis, begun in the 1970s, has been greatly worsened by the housing bubble, market rate rents, gentrification and the condominium conversion wave.  

 

     A key study by the D.C. Working Families, member of the DCsharebetter Coalition (in link just below), illustrates how landlords are reaping new fortunes by illegally charging excessive short term rents on rent controlled apartments to vacationers, and creating what many tenants fear is a foot-in-the-door tactic to emptying buildings and evicting longterm tenants.  Clearly where there is a real estate will there is a real estate way.  See th e full report at:

http://dcsharebetter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/D.C.-Housing-Report_Web.pdf

     TENAC joins D.C. Labor and other advocates to end this pernicious practice. We applaud D.C. Union Local 25 (the DC Hotel Workers Union), D.C. Working Families and the the DCSharebetter coalition in combating AIRBNB, et. al.  In response to advocates' efforts, Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie has introduced a bill to remedy this problem.   TENAC strongly supports this legislation, along with Councilmember Anita Bonds's rent reform package (Details on how we can pass this bill, at bottom). 

     TENAC Says Loud and Clear: 

Rental Buildings Are NOT Hotels!

- Jim McGrath

TENAC Chairman

2.) LET THE COUNCIL KNOW! CONTACT YOUR WARD COUNCILMEMBER AND THE AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBERS (each DC resident is represented by a councilmember for their own ward as well as five At-Large [citywide] Councilmembers who represent all wards) VIA PHONE, USPS LETTER OR EMAIL. YOU CAN SIMPLY COPY & PASTE THE SAMPLE LETTER PROVIDED BELOW, OR EDIT IT OR COMPOSE YOUR OWN, AS YOU WISH. COUNCILMEMBERS' CONTACT INFO, INCLUDING EMAIL, PHONE NUMBER, AND ADDRESS iS AT:  http://dccouncil.us/council

 

My Dear Councilmember:

 

     As one of your constituents, I am writing to ask you to support Councilmember McDuffie's bill to fix the short-term rental law that AIRBNB and others are using to take rent control apartments off market for use as short term rentals. Such a practice depletes the stock of affordable housing intended by law to preserve affordablilty, and has the potential to turn my building into a 24/7 resort with loud music and other activities unacceptable in residential buildings.  I ask you to put an end to this abuse that is depriving tenants of affordable housing and is thwarting the intent of the rental laws by supporting Councilmember's McDuffie's bill. 

 

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

YOUR ADDRESS, 

YOUR EMAIL, ETC.

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