Brickell condo owners push Miami officials to crack down on illegal short-term rentals
Condo owners in Miami's Brickell neighborhood are calling on city officials to step up enforcement against short-term rentals, which they say are disrupting their high-rise communities and violating local rules.
Illegal rentals on the rise
Short-term rentals are legal in certain parts of the City of Miami, but not in Brickell's residential towers. Building signs and flyers remind residents that leasing units for brief stays is prohibited.
"It has been increasing," said Ernesto Cuesta, president of the Brickell Homeowners Association. "It's getting worse."
Cuesta said he's seen renters bypass the rules by drafting 30-day leases for one guest, then turning around and using that lease as a loophole to rent the unit out to others on a daily basis.
"That lease is being used as a cover-up to rent on a daily basis to other people," Cuesta said.
City of Miami responds, but residents want more
CBS News Miami reviewed city records showing more than 120 short-term rental complaints filed with code inspectors since January. Of those, a dozen have resulted in property liens.
"Code compliance responds to all short-term rental complaints, regardless of location," said Orlando Rodriguez, Assistant Director for the City of Miami Office of Communications. "We are aware of the issue in Brickell and the rest of the city. All complaints follow the process: initiation, investigation and adjudication, if necessary."
But Cuesta said residents want more aggressive action.
"We fear if we don't have control on that, Brickell might become a South Beach," he said. "We deserve, not because we feel that we are better than any other community. It's that we don't mind paying taxes. But what about getting the services we're paying for?"
Airbnb's statement
A spokesperson for Airbnb sent CBS News Miami a statement regarding its short-term rental policies.
"When signing up to host on Airbnb, hosts agree to abide by Airbnb's Community Standards and our Terms of Service, which stipulate that they must be in compliance with local rules and regulations. This is also made clear in our dedicated page on responsible hosting in the U.S.
To obtain a short-term rental license in Miami, hosts must verify their listing is consistent with zoning requirements in the city and apply for a business license. Once registered, hosts must add their registration details to their listing on Airbnb. We maintain an active line of communication with Miami to help uphold the city's short-term rental laws, including through ongoing collaboration on enforcement issues, support for the licensing system, and coordination around potential violations or problematic listings."
