WLA and AH&LA Focus on Holding Online Rental Companies to Same Standards as Other Types of Accommodations

Online short-term rental companies like Airbnb are facilitating the rental of unlicensed accommodations, often located in residential homes and apartments. In Washington State, these businesses are not currently held to the same health and safety standards, or the same state and local tax or insurance requirements, as hotels, B&Bs and other types of lodging establishments.

While WLA believes that competition creates a healthy business climate and benefits consumers, the Association is committed to the safety of the traveling public and to a fair and competitive business environment for the lodging industry. Holding online short-term rental companies to the same health, safety and taxation standards as other types of lodging businesses is a priority for WLA, and in the next legislative session it will ask lawmakers to require all lodging establishments –including those marketed exclusively online– to meet the same standards. Read more about WLA’s legislative priorities here.

Online short-term rentals that are able to skirt regulatory, licensing and taxation requirements are also of concern to American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA). AH&LA is working with partner state associations and others to address the issue at the national and state level.

Neighbors for Overnight Oversight, a coalition of concerned residents, community leaders, businesses and policymakers, is working with AH&LA and speaking out for sensible rules and oversight of the short-term online rental market.

Please join these efforts by using the Neighbors for Overnight Oversight Toolkit which includes sample letters to the editor and useful information on the issue of unregulated and unlicensed accommodations. View the online toolkit here. If you would like to join WLA in working on this issue, please email WLA’s grassroots action team here.