Vacation Rentals to Re-Open Soon!
Short term rentals were discontinued in Florida statewide on March 27th. Recently, Governor DeSantis, has asked each state county to submit a safety plan which would take into consideration safety measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 as the different state counties reopen their short-term rentals. Many owners only have one (or a small handful of properties). These owner/investors have been hit particularly hard by the shutdown – they still needed to pay the mortgages, property taxes, etc.
The safety plan of each county must be sent to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The department will then decide if the various plans are satisfactory.
The governor warned that if a prospective renter comes from a state with a high Covid-19 rate (like New York), the rental would probably not be approved. As of now, the state has about 275,00 rental listings.
“If you tell me you’re going to rent them out to people from New York City, I’m probably not going to approve that, Okay. If you say you’re going to rent it out to people in other parts of Florida, or something, that would be manageable …” He added that there must be an eye toward safety to be approved.
Some of the counties and the state have moved quickly. According to Floridapolitics.com, 42 counties have been approved to begin rentals (this represents 63% of Florida counties). Only 25 Florida counties remain under the original order, until their plans are approved.
Other Covid-19 hot spots that many counties are excluding include New Jersey, Connecticut, and Louisiana. Some counties are executing even greater caution. These counties are denying rentals to states with more than 700 cases per 100,000 residents. This would add Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Washington DC to the list of states excluded.
Just days ago, Collier County has been approved to reopen according to NBC-2. The county amended one aspect of their plan. Originally, the plan only allowed rentals to other Florida residents only. Now, residents from other states deemed safe will be permitted to rent.
Nearby Lee and Charlotte counties were also approved to reopen their vacation rentals.