This house on Adella Avenue, which was featured in the June 17 article City Cracking Down on Illegal Short-Term Rentals, continues to be offered for a minimum rental period of seven nights. This is despite the fact that the owner was notified by the city on July 10 that the city’s municipal code prohibits rentals of less than 26 consecutive days. The notification requested the owner to update her advertising, “to indicate the minimum rental period for your residential property is 26 days, and remove any reference to weekly (or other) rental rates for less than 26 consecutive days.” The image is a VRBO screen shot.
As the summer in Coronado comes to a close, eCoronado has taken another look at illegal short-term rentals. The first article on this subject, City Cracking Down on Illegal Short-Term Rentals appeared on July 17. It described the city’s efforts to step up its enforcement of its ban on short-term rentals. The city’s municipal code bars renting a residence for less than 26 consecutive days.
The second and third articles, Cities Grapple with Challenges of Regulating Short-Term Rentals, dated July 24, and SoCal Beach Communities Seek Solutions to Short-Term Rentals, August 2, described what is happening nationally and how other beach communities in Southern California are dealing with the issue, respectively.
In preparing this article Assistant City Manager Tom Ritter was asked if the city has contacted all of the listings in Airbnb and VRBO, two of the largest websites that list short-term rentals. Ritter responded, “We have sent out a message (and {in}many cases two messages) to most if not all vacation rental web sites including Airbnb and VRBO.” He went on to say that they city is having some difficulty contacting all Airbnb advertisers due to the site’s security features. As a result the city is pursuing other methods of contacting the individuals who have listed their properties.
Despite city’s efforts, many properties in Coronado continue to be offered as illegal short-term rentals. Following are examples of the residences that were listed on VRBO and Airbnb on Saturday September 5. It is noted that both sites included numerous listings for homes that were offered for a minimum of 26 consecutive days as required by city ordinance. Some advertisements on both sites were ambiguous about the minimum allowable stay by stating “contact owner” for the minimum stay or “the minimum night stay for this listing varies.”
This VRBO screen shot show the four bedroom/five bath house at 1633 Sixth Street that is available for a minimum of seven days for $6,000.
Another VRBO screen shot of a four bedroom/ 3.5 bath home on Olive Avenue that can be rented for as few as three nights for $1,300/night.
The listings also include small apartments such as this one bedroom/one bath unit at the corner of Orange Avenue and Second Street. It can be rented for a minimum of four nights at a rate of $175 per night. The image is from VRBO.
At the other end of the spectrum is this four bedroom/4.5 bath bay front home with a pool and spectacular views of the San Diego skyline. It is available for a minimum of three nights at a rate of $1,300 per night or $8,000 a week. The image is an Airbnb screen shot.
This two bedroom/one bath home on Eighth Street can be rented for one night for $250.
Properties in the Coronado Shores are also listed as short-term rentals. This two bedroom/ two bath condominium can be rented for a minimum of two nights for $450/night. The screen shot is from Airbnb.
Historic properties are not immune from finding their way into the short-term rental market, such as this 1924 “classic” California Spanish style home with five bedroom/3.5 bath residence on Sixth Street. It is offered for a minimum of one to two nights for $700/night in the fall and winter and $800/night during the rest of the year.
Your thoughts about short-term rentals are the subject of a survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LM7YWQ6. You are requested to complete the survey. The results will be the subject of a future article.
John Tato
Staff Writer
