Monitoring Vacation Rental Websites

Is there a definitive way to know if a listing on a vacation rental website, such as Vrbo or AirBnb, is for less than 30 days? Have any of you ever fined an owner based on such a listing that is for under the minimum stay requirements in the CC&rs?

Over perhaps 7 years, our 200 unit condo's board has fined two owners for STVR violations of renters staying only a few days. I'm sure we've had way more violations than that, but it's difficult to prove it's an STVR and not someone's "cousin," who's staying such a short time.

The ads that our PM has seen laws state a 30 day minimum, but then the interested party & the owner come up with their own arrangement.

If you do see such wording, NpB, I think a strongly-worded "reminder" from the Board or PM to the Owner that short-term rentals are not permitted, citing the covenant or rule, and the potential fine if violated, might help deter this violation.

Good work. Unfortunately, I think it's only enough to send a warning. To issue a violation notice, I think you would have to confirm that someone entered into a lease for under 30 days.

How come your HOA does not require all tenants to be registered, with a copy of the lease placed on file?

Having worked at guard gated condos and Single family homes, nobody gets in that is not on the list or has been pre approved by the owner.
At on condo I covered, we had some very unhappy people we had to turn away because the condo renter was subletting to ABB. This was the only way management
was made aware.
If you do find a ABB listing, usually if you call ABB and inform them that the listing is in an HOA and violates the governing documents, with verification they will delist it.

I don't consider this a waste of time at all. Most of us are aware of the problems that can arise when you have one or more STRs in your community. IMHO, this is one of the more important restrictions to worry about, much more so that the color of people's front doors or what sort of materials they use for their fences. Once investors get a toe hold in your community, things can go downhill fast and the window of opportunity for correcting this closes.

I think the window of opportunity is so important that STRs are one of the very few things I'd consider filing a personal lawsuit over if the board doesn't take action. Fortunately my community's CC&Rs prohibit hotel-style or corporate housing, so this is a pretty cut=-and-dried issue for us

Who follows the rules? Self entitled people don't. Now people are upset that their private residence is now the Waldorf Astoria.