[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

I second that.😎

So basically as long as it doesn't personally affect you it's fine.

[MsPCGenius]

Seems like a simply solution (albeit slow and long term)... report the address of the STR homes causing issues to the tax commissioner's office. If the fact that they are not paying the appropriate taxes comes to light, it might help to curb the offering of that property as an STR.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

You are incorrect. The 6% (not 7%) is collected by the state ONLY if the landlord tells the government that he's a landlord, and renting his property. If he doesn't tell them, then he gets away with not paying the tax. There is also a 1% county tourism tax for both Sumter and Lake Counties. Marion county rentals incur a 4% county tourism tax, making the total a 10% tax paid by the landlord to the state/county.

It also applies only to short-term rentals of less than 6 months. There are exceptions but none of them apply in the Villages (military personnel on active duty, for instance).

Wildwood Commissioner Joe Elliott suggested Tuesday night that Sumter County bring back a 2-percent tourism tax that was abolished in 2020.

[Escape Artist]

For those renters who see some of the comments as an attack on them personally, it’s been specifically mentioned the problems stems from unruly, loud, obnoxious short terms renters some of who are not 55 and who are more interested in using The Villages as base for their other excursions or to use the copious amount of amenities and recreation at extremely low prices ($50).

In the past several years as the Florida real estate market heated up but home prices were still comparatively low, investors and others bought homes as a source of revenue and income. Some took money from their retirement accounts to buy homes in Florida seeing it as a better investment and return. While perhaps a shrewd business move, it has detracted from the ambience and lifestyle many moved to TV to enjoy.

Instead of trying to get counties or the developers to act on deed restrictions I think it would be easier and more clever to heavily tax rental owners with all kinds of fees and surcharges that would make it prohibitively expensive to rent out homes short term.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

So basically as long as it doesn't personally affect you it's fine.

How do you know……..?

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

So basically as long as it doesn't personally affect you it's fine.

He seconded a post that stated a renter, who has rented 30 times, is more than welcome to continue coming to TV and the same renter was feeling unwelcomed by the posts of a FEW posters.

It had nothing to do with "personally affect you".

[Oceancouple]

No short term rentals I agree. If you do have a problem with your neighbors having short term rentals, check with the tax office, see if they claim homeowners reductions.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Oceancouple

No short term rentals I agree. If you do have a problem with your neighbors having short term rentals, check with the tax office, see if they claim homeowners reductions.

If you are talking homestead exemption.............you can rent and claim the exemption with certain limitations.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by CandJ

So we have rented over 30 times in TV because I am still working but can’t afford to have 2 homes. We have always been invited back to the homes we’ve rented because of how we take care of them and respect the fact that we’re a guest in someone else’s home. We always pay for the resident passes each visit so that helps to cover the amenities we may or may not use. More and more on here I’m seeing posts that are very unwelcoming to visitors and even renters or owners who don’t live there full-time. This is where I would love to live but just not possible at this time. We are very friendly people who love interacting with others but sometimes it’s obvious to us that the neighbors near where we rent aren’t interested in even conversing. Sort of disappointing. We’re not there to ruin your values or anything else. We’re just people who are very happy when we visit TV. It is a special place. Hoping the inhospitable attitudes don’t become the norm. We’ll be there May 27-June 7 so we hope it’s not too much for the OP and some of the others who are negative toward us as visitors

I bet you don’t stay up all night drinking and listening to loud music and invite 6 of your best friends to share the accommodations with you - and that is why you are welcome. In general it is so nice to meet people who come from all over, with interesting stories to share. But, about those misfits; I can guarantee that the hostility towards those who will take advantage and abuse the welcoming nature of the Villages will increase as more and more of them come.

[Bwanajim]

Our house in the keys was restricted to one-month rental’s only. No matter how small the amount of VRBO’s or air B&Bs are here, if it’s next to your house, it sucks.

[rogerk]

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?

Do you really want the government, The Villages is in 3 counties, or the CDD governments, telling you what you can or cannot do in your home? I don’t! Short term rentals, days not weeks or months, is something that should be discussed with your CDD board.

[Djean1981]

The short term rentals are essentially a hotel (a business). So, it shouldn't be permitted in the residental-zoned neighborhoods.

[Ele201]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Who is the family?

I’m assuming “the family” refers to the developers of The Villages. Because TV was started by and continues to be operated by the second (or could be the third) generation.

[dnobles]

We have short term renters next to us and we don’t even know they are there. They don’t bother us.

[Miekies]

Originally Posted by oldtimes

Knowing what I know now, if I did decide to move the first question I would ask is do you allow short term rentals and move on if they say yes. We have one in our neighborhood and it is very disruptive if we continue to get more moving may be an option.

Curious how 1 rental on the street is very disruptive to the street. What is happening that is causing so many problems?