Hollywood, California is a world-renowned tourist attraction. Each year, visitors from all over the world flood into the city to see its unique sites and sample this fascinating part of Los Angeles culture. That has led to some chaos in the local housing market, as services like Airbnb became popular and started to facilitate greater numbers of short-term sublets and rentals.
Now, there are specific rules in place for short-term rentals in Hollywood. For example, in 2015, West Hollywood, officials enacted an outright ban on all short-term rentals under 30 days. City officials have made it clear that no operators have permission to use any properties in West Hollywood for short-term subletting of any kind.
The Ongoing Battle To Limit Illegal Subletting
In addition, Los Angeles activists have been very vocal in criticizing the practice of subletting rent-controlled apartments in any area of the city. Tenants can, and have, sued property owners for advertising rent-controlled housing units on Airbnb, and groups are working to get stricter laws in place in various parts of Los Angeles.
In addition to what illegal subletting does to the housing market, it can change the character of a neighborhood. Problems with excessive occupancy or loud noise or disturbances can cause problems between neighbors. There is the general idea that someone who is using a property for a short-term vacation or party is not as conscientious about neighborhood relations as someone who lives in a property year-round.
Despite the ban, violations are rampant as owners continue to rent properties. This has left city enforcers scrambling to find illegal rentals, and left the West Hollywood City Council considering fines based on the size of the dwelling. Currently, Council is debating allowing rentals where the owner or tenant is present.
Despite all legal challenges to illegal subletting in Hollywood, California, some property owners, and even some renters, will turn around and sublet housing units in these communities without proper legal permission. Landlords can use available digital services to monitor these kinds of illegal sublets and make sure their properties aren’t being used as short-term vacation rentals without their permission.