DENVER — Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses will hold a public hearing on new rules for short-term rental properties on Tuesday.
These ruleswould apply to sites like Airbnb and VRBO.
One of the proposed rules would require short-term rental hosts to notify their insurance company that they are renting out their home on a short-term basis.
Airbnb and VRBO provide a certain level of coverage, but some insurance company may require additional coverage.
The new rules would also require hosts to notify their homeowner associations of their short-term rental status.
Host Buffy Gilfoil has been renting out her home since 2012. She said the rules are a good thing, but she’s specifically concerned with how they will be implemented.
“The way they're requiring affidavits to show we have insurance and that we've let our HOA’s know we have insurance… I think it would be better if we could self-certify on the insurance, maybe send in a declarations page,” she said.
Gilfoil said for long-time hosts like herself, the way the rules are written is a little discouraging.
“My concerns again are they're requiring more than they need to. For those of us who want to comply, I think it would be better if done in an easier way… I think it'll cause more people to work more undercover or go to 30-day rentals instead and then the city misses out on tax income,” Gilfoil said.
The proposed rules also include a “good cause” regulation, which would allow the director of the Department of Excise and Licenses to reject an application or revoke a license if there is evidence that a host has had a negative impact on their community.
Another rule addresses responsible parties. That rules states that if a host is out of town, they must have someone in Denver who will be responsible for the property during a guest’s entire stay.
The public hearing is Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Wellington Webb City Building on Colfax.