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Boston hearing finds enforcement gaps, platform workarounds in short-term rental system
Summary
Boston councilors on Oct. 30 pressed Inspectional Services and Boston Police about enforcement shortfalls in the city's short-term rental rules, saying platform practices and narrow documentary requirements for exemptions are hampering efforts to protect housing stock and neighborhood quality of life.
Boston councilors on Oct. 30 questioned city enforcement of the short-term rental ordinance, citing examples where residents said listings skirted rules through exemptions, platform workarounds and documentation that ISD said it must accept. The hearing before the Boston City Council Committee on Housing and Community Development opened with sponsor Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata saying the ordinance's intent was to "protect our city's housing stock, safeguard neighborhood stability, and ensure that our homes are not treated like hotels by absentee investors."
City Inspectional Services officials told councilors they use a combination of the Airbnb city portal, a vendor "scrubbing" tool (Host Compliance) and on-the-ground inspections to identify unregistered or noncompliant listings, but that operational and legal limits curb enforcement. Director…
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