[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

The point is The Villages was sold to us as an over 55 retirement community and these short term rentals not only don’t fit that profile but are actually disruptive to it. There are deed restrictions in place but the developer has chosen not to enforce them. It will just continue to get worse.

Family member in a deed restricted, 55 plus, golfing community in another state just sent us (today!) a ream of information on their residents legal attempts to fight the deterioration that short term rental has done to them. For years it was scarcely noticed, then in the last 18-24 months was everywhere. No one dreamed even the houses valued at a million would ever be rented for the night ! Drinking parties, wedding receptions "guests", none of these are exaggerations. Then a tragic death of a spring break vacationer still being investigated. BUT... when it became obvious this was multiplying, not the isolated incident it was a couple years ago, they organized, got petitions, tried to work WITH the local police and county sheriff's office. Bottom line is, almost nothing can be done. Developers are just not interested in any of it, and it not really cutting into profits, despite some bad publicity, they are still selling homes, and a multitude of buyers of properties for the rental market has been brisk. Police keep trying to explain to the resident group, that there is simply nothing they can do except remove an occasional weekend party attendee, but when people complain of their drives blocked, and cars actually resting ON lawns, the police have much higher priorities. When neighbors complained of 12 people in one home, police said they have no jurisdiction for anything like that. This was a 4 BR home, and police have nothing to do with how many people, or what age, are in a house. This definitely not limited too our Villages, and it is definitely accelerating. Those heading the resident's group my relatives are in, are now working with communities all over the USA who have successfully been able to "win", extremely limited rental "rules" in their own communities to follow their steps. It is EXTREMELY expensive, VERY good attorneys needed, and all residents have to be willing to invest the money it takes to change things. Not easy !

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Truly you jest, that is not true anywhere in the world. Renters, especially short term renters, have no interest in upkeep of the neighborhood, or being considerate etc. The only people who benefit from renters are the landlords everyone else suffers.

You need to revisit Economics 101.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

Family member in a deed restricted, 55 plus, golfing community in another state just sent us (today!) a ream of information on their residents legal attempts to fight the deterioration that short term rental has done to them. For years it was scarcely noticed, then in the last 18-24 months was everywhere. No one dreamed even the houses valued at a million would ever be rented for the night ! Drinking parties, wedding receptions "guests", none of these are exaggerations. Then a tragic death of a spring break vacationer still being investigated. BUT... when it became obvious this was multiplying, not the isolated incident it was a couple years ago, they organized, got petitions, tried to work WITH the local police and county sheriff's office. Bottom line is, almost nothing can be done. Developers are just not interested in any of it, and it not really cutting into profits, despite some bad publicity, they are still selling homes, and a multitude of buyers of properties for the rental market has been brisk. Police keep trying to explain to the resident group, that there is simply nothing they can do except remove an occasional weekend party attendee, but when people complain of their drives blocked, and cars actually resting ON lawns, the police have much higher priorities. When neighbors complained of 12 people in one home, police said they have no jurisdiction for anything like that. This was a 4 BR home, and police have nothing to do with how many people, or what age, are in a house. This definitely not limited too our Villages, and it is definitely accelerating. Those heading the resident's group my relatives are in, are now working with communities all over the USA who have successfully been able to "win", extremely limited rental "rules" in their own communities to follow their steps. It is EXTREMELY expensive, VERY good attorneys needed, and all residents have to be willing to invest the money it takes to change things. Not easy !

It is going on in cities & towns all over the United States and battle is being won by the Investors and STR owners. It's being won STR supporters, because of the money behind the battle. Restaurants, real estate people, investors, store owners ... they all win if STR's are allowed. The losers are folks that want their neighborhoods to remain "residential", but aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

You need to revisit Economics 101.

Wrote the book, literally, hahaha. Including intangible values etc, beyond 101….

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The developer is not the only one who can enforce the deed restrictions. If you have read yours and believe you are correct then continue reading to the enforcement section. In mine, the first part of that section says the owners have the right and the duty to prosecute to bring compliance. Exercise your right, perform your duty, and initiate prosecution to stop what you believe to be a deed violation.

I agree with you...but, here's the "catch 22" if you have not actually gone through the motions to exercise your right, yet. We (as a neighborhood in the general area of Lake Sumter) have not taken that step. I have relatives in another state, in a beautiful 55 golf community, who have had to take a stand... it started as isolated and has progressed to uncontrollable. The developers and the county are of NO help, the local police will help only when they have a legal right to... they can nothing to do with deed restrictions. So you are correct about each of us having a process right in our deed restriction, but if you ever have a need so threatening you need to take those steps, you will have to have a great deal of money to proceed. That's the catch-22 of all this, developers know it, real estate attorneys and agents know it, even state legislatures know it...you CAN fight, but it takes more money than most retirees have. Have you ever read one of those "lemon law" contracts when you buy a new car ? Sure it makes people feel protected, they have the "right", but, when they find out how much time, and MONEY it takes, most can't face it. Those who benefit KNOW this, car companies, credit card companies, banks, and developers !

[Pairadocs]

[QUOTE=dewilson58;2207692]If property is not being taking care of..........there are covenants in place already.

I did not see ANY concentration of rentals in ANY area.........Where is your "very big problem"??


True, you probably did not SEE any concentration as you are never going to have access to the actual stats. By that I mean, you can go on line, check verbo and ab&b, and just in the "rental" section of the Daily Sun. It can deceive you. One villages employee who owns 6 now in our village (and those are certainly far from the only ones) actually bragged to our neighbor across the street that he has "never" (he says !) ever advertised any of his. Says he's set up all kinds of pipelines to various companies and other sources who are looking for single night and single week rentals for employee rewards (free golf vaca for a top person), for conferences as far away as Tampa and Orlando ! Thought a hotel night would be cheaper, but apparently not, many around $300 a night now and do not come with golf or with affordable steakhouses, I guess ! Just don't stand on what you can find as always indicative of the actual situation is all I mean by this.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

I did not see ANY concentration of rentals in ANY area.........Where is your "very big problem"??

The unfortunate people who have a poorly run short term rental operation close to their home aren’t really concerned about the concentration of rentals in ANY area. What they are concerned with is having the deed restrictions that are supposed to be protecting them from the situation enforced. Anyone, including yourself, who suddenly finds themselves in this situation has a “very big problem” that they didn’t ask for or bring on themselves. It only takes one near your home, no concentration necessary : (

[Raywatkins]

Interesting to see differing views.
One point that is missed is that the state gets 7% of all rentals. Each county can raise additional tax. Sumter charged 2% until a couple of years ago.
I’m guessing Sumter are making enough not to need the money - probably through the Villages expanding.
I don’t see the state giving up this revenue stream. If it did where would they claw it back?
Taking the earlier response at face value, if a moderate number of the 1400 rental homes were to go on the market, house prices would presumably fall. I leave others to decide if that would be greater or smaller than the presence of renters.
Again, if true, there are areas where in the southern part of TV, there has been much speculation, based on rising house prices and rentals.
If this were to stop, where would the developer be? Would they support the stopping of rentals? Again you decide.
Interesting, there have been several past quotes regarding bad neighbours. Not snowbirds or short term renters, full time residents. It’s not what basis you are there it’s about personal behaviour. We then get into all the various threads about other forms of poor manners.
It’s great to have a moan - I know as a grumpy old man. My grandkids even bought me the tee shirt!!

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

As an example................

Airbnb shows 30 rentals between 466a & 44 and 70 rentals South of 44.

This includes short-term and long-term rentals.

Doesn't smell like a significant issue for the County to attack.








Checked a number of rental periods in the summer months when most if not are available.

You actually need to check all the other sites that offer short term rentals to get the true picture.
Another thing to consider is that these rentals are not in every neighborhood. You'll find very few million dollar homes on the golf course is being rented out. From what I'm seeing the vast majority are the smaller less than 1500 square-foot patio villas and Courtyard villas.

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by Normal

Have steps been taken to move forward an agenda to limit short term rentals in Sumter County or the residential neighborhoods of the Villages?

Air BnBs and VRBOs have inundated the housing community of The Villages, Florida. Currently there are 1,200 units utilized in this capacity. Two and three day temporary renters come and go in otherwise quiet neighborhoods degrading property values and use facilities that others pay for monthly and for the longer haul in expenses.


Sumter County should mirror nearby Clearwater Beach guidelines for renting. The city does not allow short-term rentals in residentially zoned districts. This means that residential property owners cannot lease or rent out their properties for less than 31 days or one calendar month. While residential properties can be advertised as monthly rentals, they cannot be advertised for daily or weekly rentals.


Residents involved pay amenities and additional long term costs to live in a gated community atmosphere for two person occupancy.

Are there petitions? Is county government involved yet? If not, does anyone have ideas to move the county forward towards compliance of the majority of voters needs?

My suggestion would be is talk to one of the county commissioners. One thing that you could suggest to them is put it on a county referendum before the voters. I would all but guarantee if the voters who actually live here as full time voting residents had a say there would be no short term rentals.

[dhdallas]

There are 4 short term rentals within a stones throw of our house and we have never had a problem with any of them for the past 3 years that we have lived here. The landlords pay the amenity fees every month the same as a full-time resident.

[Two Bills]

Possibly the cheapest and most effective way for those in areas badly affected, would be to make up some signs, and spend a few days picnicking outside the sales offices.
If buyers (who are not buying to rent)start asking a few questions about the perceived problem, it may get someones attention.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

My suggestion would be is talk to one of the county commissioners. One thing that you could suggest to them is put it on a county referendum before the voters. I would all but guarantee if the voters who actually live here as full time voting residents had a say there would be no short term rentals.

I would start by contacting the commissioner of district 5.

[ewstanley]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

You actually need to check all the other sites that offer short term rentals to get the true picture.
Another thing to consider is that these rentals are not in every neighborhood. You'll find very few million dollar homes on the golf course is being rented out. From what I'm seeing the vast majority are the smaller less than 1500 square-foot patio villas and Courtyard villas.

That is correct! AirBNBs aren't the only rental website.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Villager

You actually need to check all the other sites

Actually I don't.

As stated, as an example.