Shown at left at the April 27 Conway selectmen’s meeting is short-term rental owner David Cavanaugh of suburban Boston, who now heads a property owners group that plans to attend next Tuesday’s meeting. At table from left: Steve Porter, John Colbath and Dave Weathers. (DAYMOND STEER PHOTO)
Shown at left at the April 27 Conway selectmen’s meeting is short-term rental owner David Cavanaugh of suburban Boston, who now heads a property owners group that plans to attend next Tuesday’s meeting. At table from left: Steve Porter, John Colbath and Dave Weathers. (DAYMOND STEER PHOTO)
CONWAY — On Friday, the town released hundreds of notices to short-term property owners, informing them that such rentals must be owner-occupied.
The letter, signed by code officer David Pandora, says, “We would prefer to achieve voluntary compliance as opposed to an enforcement action. Please let us know your position within 30 days of the date of this letter.”
I don't own property in No. Conway; I own in a different NH town supported by tourism. It seems to me that No Conway is fiddling with your policies in a way that could have unintended consequences on property values for year round residents. And even your economy in general. Owners have purchased these units and have found a way to offset carrying costs by renting them out. Maybe many of them have bought multiple units. If you suddenly forbid them to rent them, then they're going to dump them quickly and buy in other towns (like mine). The effect will be to depress the real estate market in No. Conway. And that will depress the value of real estate for all property owners, not just for these vacation rental unit owners.
I suggest you think long and hard about the regulations you want to pass. What is the great benefit to them? Renters cause no fundamental harm to No. Conway. In fact, they bring their vacation dollars with them.
"We would prefer to achieve voluntary compliance as opposed to an enforcement action." Of course they don't want to use the courts, because they don't have a case. The letter doesn't even say what law or zoning the renters are breaking. Trying to call a residential rental a commercial bussiness is just silly. If a Judge ruled that rentals are banned in Conway that would ban ALL rentals. Month to Month, Seasonal, International Workers, Longterm and Short Term. What is that going to do to affordable housing and young families?[thumbdown]
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Sounds like lobbyists for the hotels greased the palms of the town's committee members.
I don't own property in No. Conway; I own in a different NH town supported by tourism. It seems to me that No Conway is fiddling with your policies in a way that could have unintended consequences on property values for year round residents. And even your economy in general. Owners have purchased these units and have found a way to offset carrying costs by renting them out. Maybe many of them have bought multiple units. If you suddenly forbid them to rent them, then they're going to dump them quickly and buy in other towns (like mine). The effect will be to depress the real estate market in No. Conway. And that will depress the value of real estate for all property owners, not just for these vacation rental unit owners.
I suggest you think long and hard about the regulations you want to pass. What is the great benefit to them? Renters cause no fundamental harm to No. Conway. In fact, they bring their vacation dollars with them.
Time to sue.
"We would prefer to achieve voluntary compliance as opposed to an enforcement action." Of course they don't want to use the courts, because they don't have a case. The letter doesn't even say what law or zoning the renters are breaking. Trying to call a residential rental a commercial bussiness is just silly. If a Judge ruled that rentals are banned in Conway that would ban ALL rentals. Month to Month, Seasonal, International Workers, Longterm and Short Term. What is that going to do to affordable housing and young families?[thumbdown]
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