Rise of short-term rental housing fuels contention in University District

Nicole DeFabio
Wed, 13 Nov 2024 05:19:52 +0000
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The historic David Beers Cabin, located on 40 E. Norwich Ave., is now a short-term rental spot that tenants can book on Zillow. Credit: Nicole DeFabio | Lantern Reporter

As the number of short-term rentals rises, members of the University District are wary about the toll it may take within the community.

The amount of licensed short-term rentals in Columbus reached a record-breaking high of over 1,700 in 2024, marking a nearly 1,000-unit spike from just 778 in 2021, according to a September report by 10TV.?

According to the City of Columbus website, a short-term rental refers to any place of residence that is wholly or partially rented for fewer than 30 days. These properties often appear on websites like Airbnb or VRBO, which tenants use to book stays ranging from a single night to several weeks.?

As the number of temporary lodgings within the city increases, residents of the University District remain torn on the impact these rentals have on the community and greater Columbus area.?

Eric East, member of the University Area Commission and resident of the Old North neighborhood, said he believes short-term rentals are a “mixed blessing,” as they keep properties well-maintained while simultaneously raising ethical questions regarding the possible displacement of longtime residents.

“As older homes that have been occupied by elderly or longtime families are converted to short-term rentals, this rehabilitation has had a positive impact on the appearance and condition of surrounding homes,” East said. “But what happened to those families and elderly residents? Was the property willed to a family member who saw an opportunity to profit off of a short-term rental conversion? Was the longtime family priced out by rising taxes or an opportunistic landlord?”

In September 2019, the median selling price for a home in the Old North was roughly $260,000, according to the real estate company Redfin. As of September 2024, the average selling price stands at nearly $310,000, according to Redfin.

East said he thinks short-term rentals are one of the leading contributors to the rising costs of student and full-time housing in the University District.

“Rent and the cost of entry to home ownership in Old North — again, a traditionally more affordable neighborhood in the University District — have risen significantly over the past five to 10 years,” East said.?

East said the housing market has seen “massive” increases in home values, and rentals may only further complicate the situation.“The continued conversion to [short-term rentals] can only add to the scarcity of available homes and subsequently drive up their prices further,” East said.

Xenia Palus, a resident of the Northwood Park Historic District, said she agreed with many of East’s sentiments, sharing the concern that property owners who convert already expensive properties into short-term rentals may greatly limit affordable options for students.?

“They’re going to go for the bigger bang for their buck,” Palus said. “And that’s the business model that some of the businesses follow. Who may end up hurting the most is that population or percentage of students who really need to be able to find something that’s going to be affordable.”

Palus, however, said the lack of regulatory agency is her biggest concern in regard to short-term housing, as it allows renters to host overcrowded and disruptive parties that may result in property damage.

No specific regulations for a “reasonable” amount of overnight guests are outlined in Columbus City Code 598.20, which details the policies for property owners to gain short-term rental permits, adhere to city safety guidelines and fulfill other preliminary requirements.?

Palus said she believes this lack of oversight to be “problematic.” She said code enforcement officers may face more severe, time-sensitive responsibilities, causing overcrowding issues to be overlooked.

“Code enforcement officers are tasked with an inordinate responsibility in their day-to-day work,” Palus said. “Add to their roster of requirements the short-term rentals, and what doesn’t get addressed? The [overcrowding] situation.”

Though East said none of the three short-term property owners on his block have caused any “major issues,” describing them as “attentive” and “responsible,” he still acknowledged the many negative experiences others have faced.

“There definitely are [short-term rentals] in the University District that have been poorly managed and have had serious problems,” East said. “I feel that this is an important matter for the City Attorney and City Council to address, and I have spoken to both as a concerned Columbus resident.”

Pete Shipley, communications director for Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, said in an email the City Attorney’s office can only handle short-term rental complaints that involve ongoing issues that qualify as nuisance abatement with documented evidence, such as police and service calls or significant disturbances repeatedly reported by the community.?

“If there is sufficient documented evidence to support our Property Action Team filing a lawsuit to ask the court to declare the property a public nuisance, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate action,” Shipley said.

A nuisance abatement is a type of lawsuit that aims to permanently stop and prevent a nuisance, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 3767.03.

The city routinely files these cases against “drug houses, violent bars, derelict landlords and other problem property owners,” Shipley said.

Shipley said though the City Attorney’s office has heard complaints about short-term rental properties, it has not pursued any legal proceedings.

“To date, we have not filed any action against a short-term rental property, but we are aware that some residents have made complaints to 311 regarding several of these properties,” Shipley said.

This story was updated Nov. 14 at 9:08 p.m. to correct a misspelling in the first paragraph.