Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Short-term rentals

[R Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

Well, OK, I have been challenged for (over)responding to the term "renters", 
and missing the point of the conversation, which was really "short term".  So 
I'll try again ...

In both housing generally, and my cohousing community in particular, all sorts 
of people ... sons and daughters, mothers and mother-in-laws, ex-spouses, 
brothers and sisters, friends from college, friends from Europe -- are coming 
and going all the time.  Some stay a few days, others stay many weeks or 
several months.  All of which looks normal to me.

So:  What additional issues are there if these people are paying some rent, 
rather than camping out for free?  How would we expect to find out?

R Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing
Cambridge, MA

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 4, 2013, at 9:41 AM, Margaret Porter <margaret.porter [at] 
> mindspring.com> wrote:
> 
> Cohousers--Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry about short term 
> rentals.  It was specifically focused on short-term, which can range from a 
> few days to several months, depending on the community, its governing 
> covenants, and owner choice. I am wondering about any impact on community 
> functioning and cohesiveness of such short term renters.  I did not mean to 
> trigger the important discussion of renters compared with owners in our 
> larger society or in cohousing generally.  That mix obviously varies with 
> personal finances and preferences, general economic trends in our country and 
> many other factors. Longer term renters are often an integral part of 
> cohousing communities and contribute importantly to them.  Thanks again foro 
> your thoughts, Margaret Porter, Silver Sage Village