I am a resident in your district and am writing today to voice my support for bill 1107 that returns short-term rental rights to one- and two-family homeowners who live in their homes.

I fully support the regulation of short-term rentals, which was necessary to curb egregious behavior from bad actors taking scores of apartments off the market. However, in the implementation of the current law, LL18, one- and two-family homes were universally disqualified from whole-unit rentals in the homes in which they live, which is a step too far. Small homeowners were never part of the housing problem facing our city, and their ability to use their homes as they see fit for their families, communities and financial stability should not have been taken away.

Like renters, homeowners need housing affordability and security. Often, short-term rental income provides a vital supplement for a homeowner and their family to afford their mortgage and household expenses. Eliminating the option of short-term rentals has threatened the ability of working and middle-income owners to support themselves and their families, and stay in their homes.

Please act now to make these common-sense fixes, so small homeowners can stay in their homes and maintain the fabric of the city’s diverse, local communities. With this in mind, I urge you to support bill 1107.