Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
During prior discussions of Airbnb’s in OG, we learned that the practice of short term rentals is alive and well in the Grove with over 200 listings. We also learned that many of those who live near such rental units are unhappy because those renters don’t often consider the welfare of those who actually live in those neighborhoods. There is the perception that the quality of life around such rental units may be compromised due to noise, lack of consideration of neighborhood residents, ignorance of Grovarian customs, carelessness with garbage, parking glut, and parties with crowding.
Here is the latest from the Township. It is from the minutes of their meeting on February 10, 2020: Mayor Lane presiding.
The Committee discussed the hotel/motel occupancy tax. Ms. Rizzo suggested that the focus for now be on the hotels and motels with the Airbnb’s being considered at a later time. The bulk of the revenue would come from about nine hotels in the Township. Mr. Williams stated that he spoke to the NJ Division on Taxation and they clarified that this tax is referred to as an occupancy tax and not a hospitality tax.
Dr. Brantley asked why the Airbnb’s are not being considered now.
Mr. Gadaleta stated that a meeting is being set up to discuss how to identify Airbnb’s so that the tax could be charged. Mr. Anthony added that keeping up with the inspections and identification of Airbnb’s will be more of a challenge. Mr. Williams stated that the problem with doing just the hotels and motels is that the Committee would be imposing an additional tax on the people who doing things properly in terms of inspections and registration. There was discussion on whether or not this is an additional tax or merely a collection of tax by the Township that is already being paid to the state.
Mr. Gadaleta will prepare a report to clarify some of the questions about the tax.
During the public portion of the meeting, no one in the audience had anything to say about this topic.
Feel free to use the Blogfinger comments section to talk about this subject. There is nowhere else that such an open dialogue can take place. Where are the hotels, B&B’s, etc. on this topic? Don’t they have a voice? They are not listed on the OG Chamber of Commerce members list.
Here is a link to a 2018 poll which we ran on Blogfinger about citizen opinions regarding Airbnb’s in town:
There are other BF articles on this subject. Just do a search in the box at the upper right corner of our home page. Type in “airbnb”
EDITORIAL NOTE: This topic is about more than just Airbnb’s. The Township, it seems, cares only about the revenue to be derived from Ocean Grove. It is the old “cash cow” syndrome. They don’t give a damn about the quality of life of those residents who live here.
You can tell from their choice of topics relative to the Airbnb issue, which is about much more than taxes. These Neptuners are shameless in the way that they ignore the people of the Grove.
LEON REDBONE “Reaching for Someone and Not Finding Anyone There.”
A very important fact here regarding Airbnb’s is that your insurance company must be made aware of this.
If one of these short term tenants falls, or in anyway injures themselves at your property, resulting in a lawsuit, your insurance company can deny the claim based on the lack of information on the policy.
In other words, if you are running this business, the risk of liability increases and so will your premium.
Airbnb’s are not a permitted use in OG, but Neptune permits them to operate in OG.
In order to legally operate an Airbnb in Ocean Grove it must be located within a zoning district where Airbnb’s are listed as a permitted use in a business district.
Airbnb is a business, and if it’s not listed as a permitted use, then it’s prohibited.
As there are no such districts in OG, it could be considered “tax fraud” on the part of Neptune Township to collect a “hospitality tax” from an illegally operating Airbnb.
Shelley Paterson has weighed in before on this subject. This is what she said in November 2019 on Blogfinger:
Shelley Paterson
Leave it to Neptune to turn something that in my opinion, is ruining the quality of life in OG into another money-making scheme for the Township. Across the country Airbnb’s expansion has led to backlash from residents who complain about tourist traffic in previously quiet neighborhoods, a loss of affordable long-term rentals and spikes in housing costs.
Critics also say neighborhoods lose their sense of community when it becomes more transient, and that once-quirky, off-the-beaten-path towns start looking like every place else. We now have three year-round neighbors on my block, a block that was previously occupied by 90% full time residents.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the trend for short term rentals (STR) is away from “shared spaces,” where owners are present. Individuals are now purchasing single-family or multifamily units to turn them into STRs — creating a business — to the considerable detriment of their neighbors.
Some short-term renters turn these locations into party houses, creating noise, traffic, and a public nuisance. In such instances, neighbors who need a night’s sleep to work the next day or who have school-age children are disturbed.
Shelley: You have hit on an important viewpoint: Year-round renters become citizens with a sense of community; not so for short-term renters.
So year-round renters are desirable; short term renters are not and should be discouraged.
Those of us who live in the Grove (renters and owners) routinely get disrespected by the Neptuners.
Thanks, Paul @Blogfinger
Once again Neptune is focused on revenue rather than the quality of life and safety of those who live in Ocean Grove.
In my opinion, nonowner-occupied Airbnb type rentals do not belong in residential neighborhoods. They increase traffic and parking and result in people coming and going at all hours. In short, they commercialize an otherwise residential neighborhood, not to mention reduce the availability and cost of year-round rentals.