AirBNBs

In the last year, the regulation of Short-Term Rentals (“STRs”) in Massachusetts gained a lot of momentum. State legislators obtained Governor Baker’s signature for their most recent bill to regulate the industry; STR giant Airbnb filed a lawsuit against the City of Boston regarding its “Ordinance Allowing Short-Term Residential Rentals”; the Land Court issued a monumental decision regarding its interpretation of zoning and as-of-right use(s) by property owners; and STR operators throughout the Commonwealth are scrambling to determine their rights and responsibilities-which vary as you travel from Williamstown to Provincetown. STR proponents insist that property owners should be free to utilize their real estate with minimal regulation, while critics argue that the industry contributed to the lack of an affordable housing inventory, pushed out permanent residents, substituting them with transient tourists, and perpetuated gentrification in certain urban areas.

Learn about the land use and zoning implications that STRs present, and understand the landlord/tenant and HOA concerns for owners, tenants, and guests looking to utilize STRs. Hear the panelists summarize the major sections of the Commonwealth’s 2019 STR statute, explain the various concerns of local municipalities when considering an ordinance to control or limit short-term rentals, and analyze the arguments presented in Airbnb’s federal court lawsuit against Boston.