05/19/2020
As active members of the FVRMA (Florida Vacation Rental Management Association), today, I took the time to write to our elected officials to request they take action as many other counties have done so we can begin hosting all of our wonderful guests again here in Broward County! Here is what I wrote:
May 19, 2020
Mrs. Bertha Henry
County Administrator of Broward County
115 South Andrews Ave
Room 409
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33301
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Henry and other city mayors and commissioners,
Good Morning County Administrator Mrs. Bertha Henry.
First, let me thank you for all you are doing during this COVID-19 Pandemic, these are for sure trying times.
My name is Gene Broyles and I am a member of the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association. My family is the owner of two registered vacation rentals in Broward County in Wilton Manors. Additionally, we own properties in Ft. Lauderdale and Oakland Park so we have a vested interest in the S. Florida market.
The Governor has requested that each County submit performance recommendations for the reopening of Vacation Rentals. The FVRMA has worked with DBPR and as a member, I will GLADLY (and have been even before COVID-19) adhere to all recommendations they have suggested. (attached are these recommendations). I am asking that you submit a request to the Governor and DBPR to allow registered Vacation Rentals to reopen. I have some additional suggestions for you to request regarding vacation rental business in Broward County:
1. Broward County allows only Legal and Registered Vacation Rentals to reopen in Broward County. It appears that the seemingly small number of owners that follow all protocols and licensing requirements by the city, state and associated regulatory bodies, we are unfairly being punished for those that are not. Instead of spending time hurting the professionals in this business that would like to continue operating in the safest manner possibly, I would think you would want to exercise the penalties and fines for those that are already not operating legally and have no incentive to abide by these DBPR requirements.
2. State License numbers must be listed on all rental Platforms. The vast majority of advertisers on HomeAway, VRBO and Airbnb are not licensed or registered. This needs to be a mandatory input field required by all platforms. This will make it easier for the Department of Sustainable Development to find illegally run properties. This will allow consumers to know which properties are legal and upholding cleaning and safety standards. Broward County and the State of Florida are losing millions of dollars in Tax Revenue from unregistered properties.
3. All Florida residents can rent Vacation Rentals with no restrictions. No limits for Stay Vacations.
4. Guests traveling from outside the State of Florida, may rent for a 2-week minimum to quarantine. I would prefer this restriction to be eliminated in Phase 3, I think this will help the Governor feel more comfortable at this point in Phase 1.
As a DPBR licensed STR operator, we are held to the same (actually higher) requirements that hotels, motels, timeshares, etc are held to, but we are being treated differently and no one seems to be willing/able to explain why that is the case. Our properties are not homeshares and guests all have their own space and will not need to be around any other guests as would be the case in a hotel situation. Also, as an operator of two units, I can PERSONALLY assure you our cleaning standards exceed the suggestions by the DPBR.
I would love the opportunity to speak with any of you personally to open the dialogue and understand why Broward County is refusing to even submit their recommended safety guidelines to the DBPR for approval as other counties in the state have done recently. I can be reached via email or on the phone at (###) ###-###X
Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you!