Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals Accessibility topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rockaway Beach to promote accessible short-term rentals after audit finds 24 qualify
Summary
Staff shared results of a Becoming Rentable audit showing 24 short-term rental properties meet baseline accessibility standards and 66 more are close; city plans targeted outreach, will cover first-year verification fees for initially identified properties and develop outreach materials and web links to promote accessible listings.
City planner Abram reported that the city’s partnership with the private verifier Becoming Rentable identified 24 short-term rental properties that meet the baseline accessibility criteria and another 66 that are one or two modifications away.
"Becoming Rentable finished their audit of existing short term rental market and found that there are 24 properties that currently meet the baseline of minimum accessibility criteria," Abram told the commission. He said the city has sent letters to the identified property owners and Becoming Rentable will follow up directly. To encourage listings, the city plans to cover the Becoming Rentable verification fee for the first year for initially identified properties, with longer-term incentives to be determined.
Commissioners and participants asked for clarification about the outreach and timeline for Becoming Rentable to post Rockaway Beach accessibility information on its website; Abram said the city’s direct outreach has begun and staff will work with the company and the city manager on outreach materials and web links. He noted that some of the 24 identified properties were motels operating under county licenses rather than the city’s STR program, which may reduce the number of city-regulated properties that can be verified.
Staff said future outreach could include highlighting existing accessible features in the community (boardwalk, accessible fishing ramp) to help STR owners see the market demand for accessible listings.
