Airbnb spokesperson: Miami-Dade County short-term rental rules are too restrictive – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

(WSVN) – With COVID-19 cases on the rise in South Florida, one county has decided to crack down on pandemic party homes like the ones we exposed on 7News, but short-term rental companies say the new rules go too far. Tonight, we present to you Karen Hensel with this 7 Investigates.

Big parties in a house by the water Miami’s Belle Meade Island to the fast cars hurtling down a residential street in Coconut Grove and the party buses outside this Northeast Miami-Dade Mansioneven gunshots signaling the end of the party to a house in miami beach.

Voisin: “Last night was like stepping out of a movie.”

Clubs may be closed, but the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t stopped parties from raging in rented homes, and neighbors have had enough.

Edward Carrillo, neighbor: “Having a good time is one thing. Turning it into a nightclub is completely different. It’s not acceptable.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez: “We have seen the footage. We know this is happening and we had to stop it.

And to stop it, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez signed this emergency ordinance last week tightening restrictions on short-term vacation rentals. No more than 10 people are allowed on a property and, more importantly, new rental contracts must last at least one month.

Ben Breit, Airbnb: “The vast majority of our hosts don’t want parties in their listing.”

Ben Breit is a spokesperson for Airbnb.

He calls the parties unacceptable but says Miami-Dade’s emergency ordinance prohibiting daily or weekly rentals is too restrictive.

Ben Breit: “We would love to be able to have a conversation, and we would love for our own guests to be able to sit down at the table as well.

Karen Hensel: “Have you had any communications with Miami-Dade County about any of this one-on-one?”

Ben Breit: “Not to my knowledge.”

Before the emergency ordinance was signed, a trade group representing rental companies like Airbnb sent the mayor a letter saying “we urge you to reconsider” the ban on short-term rentals, calling them “ideal for social distancing” and an “affordable, essential”. choice” as an alternative to hotels.

Airbnb says it recently implemented restrictions on its site to prevent some under 25 from booking homes near where they live.

Ben Breit: “We’re literally blocking those bookings, so it’s a very aggressive step to try to stop unauthorized parties because we all recognize that they’re just not acceptable.”

Mayor Carlos Gimenez: “They say, yeah they’re trying, they’re trying, but it’s not happening man.”

We asked the mayor about Airbnb’s position that the new measures are too restrictive.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez: “Airbnb has only Airbnb to blame for this problem. We have spoken and said over and over again that this party hearth situation is a problem, not just for this pandemic, but for the fundamental disruption of neighborhoods.

In Broward County, the emergency ordinance also limits the number of guests in vacation rentals to no more than 10 people, but unlike Miami-Dade, it does not include restrictions on the length of reservations.

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