Safety requirements for short-term rentals

I’d like to add some comments to Gazette reporter Sam Ferland’s thoughtful article about Easthampton’s recent short-term-rental discussion, centered on the Ordinance Committee’s unanimously recommended ordinance. (Ultimately sent back to committee)

Because short-term rentals (STRs) involve the same risk to visitors as motels, hotels, and licensed bed & breakfast businesses, the state is mandating similar safety requirements. Sprinkler systems — or acceptable alternatives — are a part of these.

From my observations, Ordinance Committee members have been trying hard to write an ordinance that allows everyone already hosting an Airbnb to continue doing it. These councilors know that they cannot lower safety standards below the state minimum. What they can do — and perhaps should do — is remove the disputed passage in the ordinance that mandates one specific alternative to sprinkler systems. This may simplify matters.

If the passage is removed, owners of STRs will instead learn upon their first inspection whether sprinklers are the only way to meet the state’s safety requirement — or if there is a cheaper alternative that would meet or exceed the state’s safety threshold. That alternative will likely be the monitored fire alarm system — possibly costing $5,000 — presented by Fire Chief Christopher Norris, Fire Capt. Daniel Constantine, and Building Commissioner David Gardner.

As mentioned at the meeting, the Northeast has witnessed some horrific fire-related fatalities at STRs, and the safety codes have been created for prevention. It would be both unethical and illegal for city councilors to suggest lowering safety standards for STR owners who find the cost of code compliance onerous.

However, our councilors can pursue other avenues. If one goal is to be sure elderly owner-operators can afford to stay in their homes — an idea implied by Councilor Denham — the councilors can brainstorm sources of funding toward code compliance. Senior citizen status does open some doors.

A gentle reminder to anyone currently operating a short-term rental: If you decide to rent to one party for more than 30 days, you are now operating a long-term rental. That change of use means less risk to the occupants and, therefore, no expensive sprinklers or alarm systems.

Laurel Gardner

Easthampton