Lodging official denounces Airbnb
Online lodging services like Airbnb are on the rise in Maine, providing visitors a way to rent rooms in apartments and houses, but not everyone is happy about their popularity.
Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Association, told The Forecaster services like Airbnb have “grown exponentially.” He said the new competition created by the online lodging services is unfair because they allow people to profit from renting rooms without following state and local regulations.
“[Airbnb] creates a playing field that isn’t level,” Dugal told the newspaper. “These people are profiting from activity that is illegal and shouldn’t be promoted.”
Corey Saenz, a Portland lawyer, told The Forecaster she uses Airbnb to rent out her three-bedroom apartment because it’s “a natural way to make money” without having to get another job. She charges $200 a night for her place, and between $350 and $380 during the peak summer months. Saenz said while her apartment is compliant with monthly rental requirements set by the state, it may not be with compliant with the state’s requirements for short-term spaces, but added that she’s not concerned about the regulations.
Jeff Levine, director of Planning and Urban Development for the city of Portland, told the newspaper that enforcing users of services like Airbnb hasn’t been a major priority, but said the city will take action against non-compliant rentals when they arise.
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