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Los Angeles Times
17 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Short-term home rentals are dropping in L.A. ‘The rules are too much'
For the last four years, Katherine Taylor rented out her Westside guesthouse on Airbnb. She came to rely on the extra income at a time when it felt like everything was getting more expensive. But this spring, she took the listing down. 'I'm out,' Taylor said. 'The rules are too much. All these new regulations kept popping up, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before I got fined.' Across the L.A. region, many people who rent out their homes for income seem to be changing their preferences. Short-term rentals are much more lucrative than longer stays, but the steady turnover often creates headaches for landlords, and increasingly they are in the crosshairs of local ordinances, including the risk of fines. Because of this and other factors, short-term rental registrations have dipped over the last year. Last July, there were 4,228 active Home Sharing registrations in the city of L.A., according to the Planning Department. This July, there were 3,972 — a 6% decrease. Short-term rental software platforms show a decrease in listings as well, to varying degrees. In analyzing a sample set of short-term rentals in the L.A. metro area, Hospitable estimated a 44% drop in listings year over year, with steady declines each month. AllTheRooms reported a 13% drop in Airbnb listings across L.A. County over the same stretch. The data sources vary, since companies have different access to listing data. AirDNA reported an 8% increase in Airbnb and VRBO listings in the L.A. metro area over the last year, but noted a decrease since January fueled by big drops in fire markets: a 56% decrease in Altadena, 36% decrease in Pacific Palisades and 25% decrease in Malibu. Expert opinions differ on the cause of the drop-off, but the fires are definitely a factor. Thousands of homes burned down in the Palisades and Eaton fires, taking many rentals off the market. But in the wake of the disaster, many short-term rentals were converted to mid- or long-term rentals to house fire victims. Other hosts are opting for mid-term rentals — stays of longer than 30 days but less than a year — independent of the fires. 'The short-term rental space got stuck. Regulations hit, and people are finding that the next best option is mid-term rentals,' said Jesse Vasquez, an entrepreneur who runs a mid-term rental summit every year. Vasquez said L.A. is the best market for mid-term stays because so many people visit the city for extended periods with no permanent plans: travel nurses, students, digital nomads or people working on long-term projects such as films or construction. He said mid-term rentals rake in about 15% to 20% less than short-term rentals, but in exchange, homeowners deal with less turnover. If a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in a popular neighborhood can make around $10,000 per month as a short-term rental, it could still bring in $8,000 per month as a mid-term rental, Vasquez said. Last year, Airbnb Chief Executive Brian Chesky identified mid-term stays as a 'huge growth opportunity' for the company, and said such bookings make up 18% of the company's business compared with 13% to 14% before the pandemic. Mark Lawson used to rent out his San Fernando Valley home on VRBO for weekend stays, but last year he set the parameters to only accept bookings of 30 days or more. 'I got tired of having someone new in the house every few days,' he said. Short-term rentals have long been contentious. While advocates say sites such as Airbnb and VRBO offer income for homeowners and options for tourists, critics claim home-sharing removes long-term rentals from a market in the midst of a housing crisis. To prevent L.A.'s housing stock from being converted into short-term rentals, Los Angeles in 2018 passed the Home-Sharing Ordinance, which regulates short-term rentals by restricting hosts to renting out only their primary residences and requiring them to get a license. The regulatory framework worked — somewhat. Listings dropped 70% from 2019 to 2023, though much of the drop could be attributed to the pandemic. Last year, the restrictions spread to unincorporated areas in L.A. County, which previously weren't subject to the rules. But despite the new requirements, thousands of hosts still operate without a license, or fake their registration numbers, due to lack of enforcement. Last year, a report from the L.A. Housing Department said that as of October 2024, there were an estimated 7,500 violations of the Home-Sharing Ordinance, but only 300 citations. So in March 2025, the L.A. City Council approved a slew of recommendations to beef up the ordinance even more, arming the city with a war chest of new enforcement tools. The plan calls for 18 staffers to monitor violations and increased fines based on the square footage of the rental: $1,000 for rentals less than 500 square feet, up to $16,000 for homes greater than 25,000 square feet. The fines double and quadruple on the second and third violation, respectively. The recommendations even call for city staffers to go on spy missions in illegal rentals. Under the proposed plan, Housing Department staff would use prepaid cards to book home-sharing rentals and stay in homes to gather evidence that they're operating illegally. However, two months later, the city's $14-billion budget scaled back spending for many city departments. As a result, no new enforcement officers have been hired, and many of the plans have yet to be implemented. But simply the threat of higher fines and stricter enforcement has had a chilling effect. 'Talking to our customers, regulation is the biggest factor in short-term rental inventory decreasing,' said Derek Jones, Hospitable's vice president of sales and partnerships. 'L.A.'s ordinance combines all the strict rules from other markets around the country.' Jones said the potential for $1,000 fines — now able to be doled out without a warning beforehand — are causing some hosts to remove listings from the market out of fear, since the fines far exceed the nightly revenue brought in by the average listing. 'Housing is expensive already, then you add high penalties and zoning that limits supply,' Jones said. 'All that put together, it creates a market where housing investors are cautious to invest. And that proved to be the case this year.' Taylor is one such investor. She specifically bought her Westside home because it had a guesthouse she could rent. But she found herself frustrated by the maximum days she could rent it annually under the Home Sharing Ordinance — 120 days. Her space was larger than 500 square feet, so under the new rules, it could be subject to a $2,000 fine for the first violation, $4,000 for the second, and $8,000 for the third. Ultimately, she decided it wasn't worth the hassle. 'I'll keep an eye on how the city is enforcing the rules. Maybe I'll try it again someday,' she said. 'But for now, it's gonna stay empty.'
News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Horror Film 'Poltergeist' House Now Up For Rent; Supernatural Activity Recorded Inside
The Poltergeist house from 1982 horror film is up for rent. Located in Simi Valley, Rachel Powers bought it in 2024 for $1.28 million. Paranormal activity has been recorded inside. The Poltergeist house from the 1982 horror movie is now being rented out to the public – and supernatural activity has been recorded inside. The 16,000-square foot property is located in Simi Valley, north of Thousand Oaks and Malibu, and was purchased by Rachel Powers in October 2024 for $1.28 million. Rachel invested approximately $165,000 to recreate the set of the movie, and is now offering stays via AirBnB, VRBO and Futurestay. The house boasts four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a large swimming pool in the spacious backyard, as well as a circular jacuzzi, whilst the front of the property has a three-car garage, a luscious lawn and several trees. It also has a dining room that connects to a kitchen and fans of the movie will notice it's still in its original form but with updated appliances. Shortly after Powers took ownership, the property was featured on the two-hour season 29 premiere of Ghost Adventures in April 2025 and during filming investigators discovered paranormal activity, including a Cabbage Patch Doll that belonged to Poltergeist actress Heather O'Rourke who portrayed Carol Anne Freeling who is targeted by the spirits in the film. Powers said: 'They used a combination of devices, including an ITC, spirit box, digital voice recorders, Polaroid cameras, Ovilus, cameras, night vision, thermal imaging, motion sensors, EMF meters, and trigger objects like Heather O'Rourke's Cabbage Patch doll. They caught some electronic communication, an object moving unexpectedly, cold spots, flickering lights, troublesome locks, energy drains and activity around the old TV. The episode tied the history of the filming of the movie, the actors, the history of the land, and the house, focusing on the investigation of the rumoured 'Poltergeist Curse'." 'The Poltergeist Curse' relates to the real-life tragic events that have affected multiple people involved with the films. Mere months after the movie was released, Dominique Dunne – who played Carol Ann's sister Dana, was strangled by her deranged ex-boyfriend in October 1982. In February 1988, Heather – who reprised her role as Carol Anne Freeling in the two sequels to Poltergeist – died from septic shock caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine at the age of just 12. She passed away four months before the release of Poltergeist III. Julian Beck played the evil Reverend Henry Kane in Poltergeist II: The Other Side and he died aged 60 just a few months after shooting wrapped on the follow-up in 1985. Poltergeist was written and produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre creator Tobe Hooper and follows the Freeling family as their idyllic suburban life is turned upside down as they are targeted by spirits including an evil entity known as The Beast. It was the the eighth highest-grossing film of 1982 and is considered to be a classic of the supernatural horror genre. view comments First Published: August 15, 2025, 19:55 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Now you can stay in the Poltergeist house from the 1982 horror classic
The Poltergeist house from the 1982 horror movie is now being rented out to the public - and supernatural activity has been recorded inside. The 16,000-square foot property is located in Simi Valley, north of Thousand Oaks and Malibu, and was purchased by Rachel Powers in October 2024 for $1.28 million. Rachel invested approximately $165,000 to recreate the set of the movie, and is now offering stays via AirBnB, VRBO and Futurestay. The house boasts four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a large swimming pool in the spacious backyard, as well as a circular jacuzzi, whilst the front of the property has a three-car garage, a luscious lawn and several trees. It also has a dining room that connects to a kitchen and fans of the movie will notice it's still in its original form but with updated appliances. Shortly after Powers took ownership, the property was featured on the two-hour season 29 premiere of Ghost Adventures in April 2025 and during filming investigators discovered paranormal activity, including a Cabbage Patch Doll that belonged to Poltergeist actress Heather O'Rourke who portrayed Carol Anne Freeling who is targeted by the spirits in the film. Powers said: "They used a combination of devices, including an ITC, spirit box, digital voice recorders, Polaroid cameras, Ovilus, cameras, night vision, thermal imaging, motion sensors, EMF meters, and trigger objects like Heather O'Rourke's Cabbage Patch doll. "They caught some electronic communication, an object moving unexpectedly, cold spots, flickering lights, troublesome locks, energy drains and activity around the old TV. "The episode tied the history of the filming of the movie, the actors, the history of the land, and the house, focusing on the investigation of the rumoured 'Poltergeist Curse'." 'The Poltergeist Curse' relates to the real-life tragic events that have affected multiple people involved with the films. Mere months after the movie was released, Dominique Dunne - who played Carol Ann's sister Dana, was strangled by her deranged ex-boyfriend in October 1982. In February 1988, Heather - who reprised her role as Carol Anne Freeling in the two sequels to Poltergeist - died from septic shock caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine at the age of just 12. She passed away four months before the release of Poltergeist III. Julian Beck played the evil Reverend Henry Kane in Poltergeist II: The Other Side and he died aged 60 just a few months after shooting wrapped on the follow-up in 1985. Poltergeist was written and produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre creator Tobe Hooper and follows the Freeling family as their idyllic suburban life is turned upside down as they are targeted by spirits including an evil entity known as The Beast. It was the the eighth highest-grossing film of 1982 and is considered to be a classic of the supernatural horror genre.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New hotel tax proposal targets downtown Chicago
Chicago now applies the state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax (HOOT) to short‑term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, effective 1 July 2025. Hosts must pay a 6% tax on 94% of gross rental receipts, adding to existing state and municipal lodging taxes. Meanwhile, the city's tourism board, Choose Chicago, is backing a proposed Tourism Improvement District that would push the hotel tax for large downtown hotels to 18.9%, raising Chicago's already-high lodging tax to top national levels. Why short‑term rentals now face state lodging tax From July 1, 2025, Illinois law extends the 6% Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax to short‑term rentals, calculated on 94% of their gross income. Previously reserved for hotels, this tax now covers all short‑term rentals under 30 days. Hosts—not platforms—are responsible for remittance, but may pass the tax to guests. The tax complements existing assessments, such as the Chicago city tax of 4.5% plus a 6% surcharge, Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority tax, and Illinois Sports Facilities Authority levy, all applied to STRs. Tourism improvement district would raise hotel tax to 18.9% Choose Chicago has announced plans for a Tourism Improvement District (TID) targeting hotels of at least 100 rooms within defined downtown zip codes. The proposal would introduce an extra 1.5 percentage points on top of the current 17.4% hotel tax, lifting it to 18.9%. Funds would support destination marketing, global media campaigns, convention bidding incentives and event promotion—aimed at reinforcing Chicago's competitive edge. How Chicago compares with other convention cities At 17.4% today, Chicago already holds one of the highest hotel tax rates among US convention-focused cities. With the additional TID charge, the rate would reach 18.9%, potentially the highest nationally. Supporters argue the extra revenue—estimated at over $50 million annually—could boost marketing budgets to levels closer to those of Las Vegas and New York, where tourism boards enjoy significantly larger funding. However, some hoteliers and meeting planners caution that the higher cost could deter business, though the tourism board believes incentives would offset any negative impact. Looking ahead Chicago has tightened rules on short‑term rentals by extending state lodging taxes and is moving to further elevate hotel tax rates downtown. For Airbnb and VRBO hosts, the HOOT extension means higher operating costs that may be passed to guests. For hotel operators and visitors alike, the proposed Tourism Improvement District could raise room rates but aims to bolster marketing and convention attraction. As public hearings and council votes loom, the city weighs revenue gains against affordability and competitiveness in the hospitality market. "New hotel tax proposal targets downtown Chicago" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
12-07-2025
- Forbes
Scammers Are Out To Ruin Your Vacation- Here's How To Stop Them
Young woman on the beach phoning the bank for credit card support getty It is July and many of us are happily looking forward to the summer vacations that we look forward to all year, however, scammers are looking forward to scamming us with a variety of scams that can ruin your vacation.. Here are some common vacation scams to avoid. HR Department Email This scam starts with an email that appears to come from your company's HR Department luring you to click on a link to submit your request for vacation time. Clicking on the link can either cause you to download dangerous malware that can lead to your becoming a victim of identity theft or luring you into providing your online credentials at work in order to get access to your company's computers and data. How to Avoid Never click on a link or provide personal information in response to an email or text message unless you have confirmed that the communication is legitimate. Scammers use email addresses that may appear to be legitimate, and it is easy for a scammer to make a text message appear as if it is coming from a trusted phone. If you get a communication that appears to come from your HR department, contact them directly through an email or phone number that you know is legitimate. Home Rental Scam Renting vacation homes rather than going to hotels has been increasingly popular in recent years. There are many excellent websites such as VRBO and Homeaway that offer wonderful vacation homes. Many people will also go to Craigslist and other similar sites. These websites can be easy and efficient ways to find a great vacation home. Unfortunately, they are also a great way for scam artists to steal money from unwary people looking for a vacation home. The scam generally starts with a listing that looks quite legitimate and there is a good reason for that. The listing is often a real online listing that has been copied by the scammer who merely inserts his or her name and contact information. The price is usually very low which attracts a lot of potential renters. The potential renters are sometimes told that the owner is out of the country and that there are many people interested in the property so if the tenant wants to be considered for renting it, the tenant has to wire money to the landlord somewhere outside of the country. Wiring money is a preferred method of payment for scammers because it is all but impossible for the victim to get their money back once they realize they have been scammed. How to Avoid There are a number of red flags to look for in vacation home rental scams. First, as always, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is just that - not true. Also be wary of landlords who are out of the country. Never send your payment by a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, Zelle, Venmo or a cashier's check. Use a credit card, PayPal or any other payment system from which you can retrieve your funds if the transaction is fraudulent. It is usually best to deal with websites that specialize in vacation homes, but you must remember that they cannot possibly monitor every listing to ensure that it is legitimate. A simple way to determine if the listing is a scam is to check out who really is the owner by going online to the tax assessor's office of the city or town where the property is located and look up who the real owner is. If it doesn't match the name of the person attempting to rent you the home, you should not go through with the rental. Also Google the name of the owner with the word "scam" next to his or her name and see if anything comes up. Hotel Room Service Some scams are just so simple and effective that they remind us why scam artists are indeed the only criminals we refer to as artists. An old scam that is still being used effectively by scammers involves a flyer under the door to your hotel room that purportedly is an advertisement for a local pizza parlor. The flyer gives a telephone number for the pizza parlor which will conveniently deliver to your room All you need to do is call the number, give them a credit card and they will promptly send you your fresh pizza or other food. Unfortunately, it is a scam. The scammers have gone through the hotel and put their flyers under the doors. They then just wait for the telephone calls and steal your credit card number. How to Avoid A good rule to follow is not to order any food from a restaurant that puts flyers under the door of your hotel or motel room. In regard to the pizza parlor or other restaurant you can confirm online or even with a quick call to the clerk at the front desk as to whether the particular restaurant described in the flyer is legitimate and whether indeed the telephone number is their actual number. Sometimes scammers use the name of a real restaurant, but substitute their own telephone number. Never order or provide your credit card unless you have independently confirmed both that the restaurant is real and the telephone number is accurate.
