Voices of VTSTRA
“Having grown up in [Vermont] and spending summers on the lake we now own a home on, we are so grateful for a place of our own, where we will someday retire, hopefully. This has been made entirely possible by the STR industry, which we truly enjoy being a part of. Our home allows travelers to have access to a part of VT where hotels do not exist, and STRs bring much needed revenue to the local businesses. A true win-win!”
— Kara Gioulis, Owner of the VT Lake House North Bay in Poultney, VT
“[Short-term rental] hosts are ambassadors for the state. We are affordable alternatives to expensive hotels. We offer a chance to enjoy the vibe of a Vermont neighborhood. There is an enormous amount of revenue generated by STR's that go directly to the economy of the area. Shutting down STR's is tantamount to closing the spigot that helps support our local economies.”
— Kent Cassella, Owner of Keaton's Landing & Host in Burlington, VT
“I believe the short term rental opportunity provides a much needed revenue source for a state citizenry deprived of a diverse job market. It also allows real Vermonters the chance to share the magic of this great state with visitors looking for an authentic experience.”
— Kris Gruen, Director of WGDR Goddard College Community Radio, from Worchester, VT
“The beauty of Vermont should be shared & economically available for all!”
— Todd Parkins, Carpenter from Plymouth, VT
“I rely on my non-owner-occupied STRs to keep my rental properties well maintained and keep my long-term tenant rents stable. STRs offer the vital security and flexibility that my family needs when life circumstances change. Responsible and reasonable use of short-term housing can be accomplished through proper regulation, regardless of occupancy status. Losing my non-owner-occupied STRs would harm me, my tenants, and my buildings.”
— Julia Marks, Owner of Marks Properties LLC and Homestead Host in Jericho, VT
“I have been providing short term rentals to guests that enjoy a short visit to our VT area for over 20 years. I enjoy finding people a vacation spot and the owners with second homes enjoy the financial aspect of renting to offset some costs such as taxes. Not allowing short term rentals would also hurt our economy!”
— Kimberly Rushford, Owner of Stowe Vermont Rentals in Stowe, VT
“I own & host 7 short-term rental units in Killington since 2012 as GoSlopeside LLC. I am an 8th generation Vermonter from Rutland County that now resides in Sparta, NJ. Short-term rentals allow my family to maintain roots and connection to the area.”
— Ryan Aines, Owner of GoSlopeSide LLC in Killington, VT
“Short-term rentals assure that otherwise seldom-used homes are kept in attractive, well-functioning order and generate local and state revenues through higher property and occupancy taxes. Often more appealing, unique, and flexible than a standard accommodation, STRs bring another category of visitors to Vermont. In our case, I provide our guests with a website of local attractions and even a Farm-to-Table food shopping tour close to home.”
— Pat Kane, Owner of Our Country Property & Host in Pownal, VT
“We host short- and long-term rentals to tourists during every season. We also host weddings and provide accommodations for up to 35 people on site. We have a maple farm and host families during sugaring to share the magic of making syrup. This bill would simply decimate our business.”
— Jennifer Stickney, Owner & Manager of Stickney Farms in Vermont
“Killington Vacation Rentals (formerly Mountain Green Rental Company) has provided short-term rental accommodations and property management services for over 30 years in Vermont. We employ a staff of over 6 full time Vermont employees as well as numerous part-time employees and local vendors and contractors. Our property owners rely on us to manage and rent their second homes - homes they like to use and rent to cover expenses. These homes would never be used for long term rentals. We strictly follow all local regulations, including Killington's short-term rental registration program, and have adapted our business to CDC and State of Vermont Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions. We are happy to be a part of the local community, a community that relies heavily on tourism and short-term rentals.”
— Dave McComb, CTO at Killington Vacation Rentals in Killington, VT
“My children are the fourth generation in my family to enjoy my property in the Northeast Kingdom and we've paid our taxes (including the statewide education property tax) since the 1950's. I firmly believe I have the right, like any Vermont property owner, full time resident, snowbird or otherwise, to do with my property what I choose. Restricting short term rentals is bad for me and bad for the tourist based economy in the Northeast Kingdom. Restricting my rights is certainly not going to create more affordable housing. HB200 is a bad idea and is going to harm the economy, not help the underprivileged!”
— John Soininen, Ipswich, MA
“If short term rentals are restricted everyone will be impacted. Homeowners pay sales taxes on rental income. Ski resorts, restaurants, ski shops and ancillary services will be negatively affected. What is the purpose of restricting short term rentals? Does Vermont need more affordable housing? It can be built. Reducing short term rentals will reduce Vermont's state and business income which includes Vermont resident employees' income. What is the reasoning behind this? No one benefits.”
— Kathleen Kalinowski, Cavendish, VT
“We love renting our home year-round to guests to explore everything that Ludlow has to offer. We have had a really great experience so far, the state gains taxes from our rental, and independent shops (including our house cleaner and a local maintenance company) gain a steady flow of business coming from the number of short-term rentals in the area. It would be such a disappointment to leave Vermont.”
—Eric Forsberg, Boston, MA
“I was born in Vermont, and have generations of family still living in Vermont. So, I own a second home in Vermont. We come often to this home, and visit family, vacation in the area, stay seasonally, and it also serves as a short-term rental when we are not using it. We hire all local people to care for the home's needs ... from housekeepers, yard work professionals, tree cutting professionals, plumbers, snow plowers, electrical professionals, oil and gas suppliers, painters, and other local professionals that help upkeep my home, etc. We provide jobs and income to the local community. In addition, the guests that visit and enjoy the area bring a lot of income to the area when eating in the local restaurants, buying from the local stores, ski at the local ski resorts, etc. My guests are vetted by me and by the vacation rental websites that I use to secure the bookings. We only allow people to stay in our home that have positive guest ratings, and deny any guests who have negative ratings, as we do not want any negativity coming to the local town or community. We are very community aware, and try to have only a positive impact on the community. Limiting or eliminating our ability to use our Second Home as a short-term rental would have a huge negative impact on our family, as well as all the people we hire in the community that care for our home. We strongly object to any legislation that would restrict our home in being used as a short-term rental.”
— Bethany Mousadi, Eustis, FL
“I own and manage short- and long-term rentals in Vermont. 50% of my long term rental units are at or close to VT fair market rent. I haven't raised my rent in the 6 years of owning them. I include heat in those units and those units are rented by tenants in the restaurant industry. They took a really hard hit due to Covid and being out of work. I gave those tenants December off for rent payments (not a deferment). That would have been impossible to do without my short term rental income to offset. I have already scrapped adding 5 new affordable housing units in existing buildings I own, two years ago, following local threats to limit Woodstock STR owners. This newest threat at the State level will most certainly derail my latest attempts at converting a vacant building into a 1 and 3 bedroom long-term, affordable apartments. Honestly, I do not know how much more I am willing to take before giving up and selling my LT rental properties to the highest out of state bidder looking for a seasonal second home.”
—Derek DeMas, Host & Property Manager in Woodstock, VT
“As a responsible business owner and someone who cares about health and safety, I support a system that holds everyone to the same standards of rental condition. However, requiring use as a primary residence hinders the tourism industry and does not provide any evidence that it will ensure health and safety regulations are met.”
— Alex Gren, Massachusetts
“We are land conservators who take great pride in keeping our second home a haven for wildlife and nature. Short term rentals are what make this possible. Preventing us from doing this would impair our ability to manage the forests and keep the land open and productive.”
— Mark Hopkinson, Syosset, NY
“My wife and I are able to pay our taxes and remain in our home of 45 years because we converted space in our barn to a short term rental. Although we are grandfathered by the town for our rentals we think that the state is going in the wrong direction regarding STRs. We are particularly bothered by the persistent assertion by anti-STR entities that STRs take away from the affordable housing market. This claim has not been substantiated but nonetheless has been used as a tool to limit STRs through legislative action.”
— David Hill, Woodstock, VT
“We are 4th generation owners of a family camp. It is the most precious place in the world for us, and we responsibly care for it, our neighbors, and the area. We depend on some seasonal rentals in order to help meet the rising costs. [Residency requirements] would be a complete disaster for us. This is an unnecessary and, frankly, foolish approach to short-term rentals.”
— Matthew Baker, From Charlotte, VT
“We bought our short term rental in East Burke VT as a way to supplement our income and enjoy the Northeast Kingdom. Being an out-of-state couple we paid an additional tax of several thousand dollars at the time of purchase. We have worked very hard to offer a comfortable, communal vacation option for up to six people. In the time that we've owned it we have hired a myriad of contractors to do numerous large and small projects, landscape companies to plow and upkeep the grounds and a cleaning person to provide with steady supplemental income. We have volunteered in the community and have been active with the local Chamber of Commerce. We have paid thousands of dollars in lodging taxes to the state of Vermont and bring dozens of people each year to the local community to help to invigorate the local economy. We have made our place safe and insured it properly. We are all for the registration of vacation rentals as well as safety compliance. We are in favor of offering good and safe rental options for those who prefer not to go to a hotel and would rather gather in a home-like environment. We are not in favor of the residency requirement (something that hotels don't have). The state of Vermont would see a huge drop in tourism revenue as people travel to NH and ME, etc. as well as the loss of millions in room taxes. We love our VT community and have been proud to offer a great vacation option and to have helped to pump tens of thousands of dollars into the local economy.”
— Christopher Andrews, Co-owner of Burke Sugar Shack in East Burke, VT
“Our [short-term rental] cottage allows us to make ends meet on our small farm. In today’s world, travelers are looking for lodging that allows them to truly experience life in rural Vermont. [Short-term rentals] have captured 50% of the hospitality market in Vermont because most offerings do just that. Proposed regulations being lobbied for by the traditional hospitality market in Vermont fail to recognize the desire by travelers to seek accommodations that are reasonably priced, meaningful and worthwhile experiences, not just places to sleep.”
— Tom Wetmore, Co-owner of Breeze Hill Cottage in Hartland, VT
“My wife and I have been wanting to buy a home in Vermont for 7 years. We finally did! The only way we’re able to make this happen is by renting our home to wonderful families on the days/weeks/months we’re not here.”
— Brian Kantor, Host in Weston, VT living in New York
“Short term rentals offer a unique experience for visiting Vermont. [STRs] generated more revenue than maple syrup for Vermont in 2019, to attempt regulate it out of business is ridiculous. That's like chopping down a maple tree to make sure it's not over tapped and blocking the neighbors view.”
— Midi Ana Bilik-Franklin, Owner of Wheelock's Riverside Farm in Wheelock, VT
“I support regulation of all short-term rentals in the state but find the residency requirement to be an absurd attempt to try to push out short-term rental operators. I have built my life and business on the short-term rental model and have invested my life savings into multiple homes and built my business from the ground up….[The residency requirement] would have a monstrous economic downturn not just in this industry, but for most businesses in this state as tourists will go elsewhere to rent and enjoy their time. This isn't just about the little short-term rentals, this is about all of our communities and businesses that thrive on tourism and we must remove the residency requirement from the bill for the betterment of everyone.”
— Colin Phillips, Owner of Mad River Glen Rental Management in Warren, VT
“We exist to welcome visitors for restorative and healing stays on our small regenerative farm in Putney Vermont. We are active in our community and love connecting our visitors with other farms and small businesses, and supporting healthy, respectful, and balanced tourism to our beautiful state.”
— Kathleen Duich, Owner of The Vermont Retreat at All One Farm in Putney, VT
“I could not have purchased my home without the income from listing my spare bedroom [as a short-term rental]. It ensures my financial security and allows me to weather financial unpredictability.”
— Gretchen Kruesi, Host in Burlington, VT
“We are hardworking VT natives. I love VT, but it is an expensive place to live! My husband and I have multiple businesses and work hard to pay our bills and have something left to contribute to others, and do volunteer work in our community. Our STR business has made all this possible. Take that away, and we will have to consider selling our properties and moving to a more affordable state. We have been hosts for 7 years, and have thoroughly enjoyed hosting, and helping others learn about this lovely place we live. If you take away the ability to "off-site host" ( We live 5 minutes from our duplex with one STR, and one LTR ) you will be taking away our livelihood. We are self-employed, we don't have 401K's, and this our retirement income. PLEASE listen to the "little guy" who is struggling to survive!!!!!!”
— Laurie Kotoroman, Owner of Mind Your Body Pilates in Burlington, VT
“My short-term rentals bring in tourists that normally would not be visiting Vermont, especially if they only had hotel options. I provide them a unique true Vermont experience that have brought guests back to Vermont time and time again for repeat stays and spreading the word to other future tourists. This all goes hand in hand with promoting the tourism industry where restaurants and small businesses absolutely see the benefits! As do my cleaners, handymen and maintenance workers.”
— Ryan Rabidou, Owner of OM Host Residencies & Host in Stowe, VT
“Providing homes for Short Term Rentals is an important service allows families to gather together to experience Vermont in the setting of a private home. Homes accommodate larger families who cannot fit into a single hotel room. The home rental market also provides valuable tax revenue to the State of Vermont. It is a win-win for both Rental Home Owners and the Vermont Residence who benefit from the collected tax revenue.”
— Prescott White, Melrose, MA
“Vermont raised the real estate property tax four fold a number of years ago, forcing many of us into the short term rental market to pay the taxes. Of us who have family vacation homes in Vermont, [we] would not be able to keep and preserve this bit of family history, if… short term rentals [are limited] to homes of primary residents.”
— Lester Pearlstein, Free Union, VA
“We own a house in Ludlow, VT that we have been renting for skiers, leaf watchers, and summer visitors for the past few years… Those tourists bring their business to Vermont because we provide them a great place to stay and explore the wonderful state of Vermont. We pay non-resident property taxes to support Vermont public education. It's been a mutually beneficial partnership and we hope it is allowed to continue.”
— Maria Martinkous, Willis, TX
“Short term rentals are the lifeblood of second homes. I was hoping to retire at our Vermont property some day. If I can no longer rent it on short term basis, I will sell my property at a steep discount and never come back. I will no longer pay taxes, suppliers, services, fees, amenities, dining, maintenance, home improvements, and transportation. In short, the state will not get another red cent out of me and, if I can help it, out of our many guests who have returned year after year to enjoy the pleasures of Vermont. In addition, my four sons will no longer consider Vermont as their lifelong second home and will look elsewhere to enjoy their families and spend their disposable income.”
— Jonathan Fox M.D., Linwood, NJ
“I own a second home in VT which I do short term rentals as it is in a highly desirable area (North East Kingdom). Many guests say they prefer to stay as a family unit in a private home rather than in a hotel. Short term rentals help tourism in the state and eliminating them will decrease visitors who want an … experience. Furthermore, it provides home owners with a means to offset the high cost of taxes in the state.”
— Deborah Finco, Noank, CT
“I own a small 2bd condo at Season's on Mt. Snow Ski Resort. The reason for Season's on Mt. Snow Real Estate to sell the units to individual home owners was to bring in revenue to the ski resort area by renting out the condos during the year. I purchased my condo in 2000. Potential skiers or guests to our condos bring in industry to the West Dover area. Without Season's on Mt. Snow and other ski resort areas that bring in skiers and other seasonal athletes all other industry are affected. These sportsmen spend money at pubs, diners, fine dining, grocery stores and pharmacies. My taxes help the police, fire department, and schools. I also help other small contractors by hiring them to maintain, and clean my condo when I'm not there. Preventing the ski areas from operating will drive industry away.”
— Cynthia James McKeon, Host in West Dover, VT
“My husbands family rented our cottage every summer for over 30 years before we purchased it so that we would always have a place to spend several weeks each summer. It is not winterized, nor will the town allow us to winterize it therefore it would be impossible to meet the requirements to stay in in 270 days even if we wanted to. Our association doesn't have the water and electric on that long. Vermont is a wonderful place for those who visit and vacation. Please don't take that away from us.”
— Michele Sommer, Host in Salisbury, VT
“My wife and I love Vermont, so we purchased a second home here, with thoughts of retiring here in a few years. The taxes and heating cost ( we maintain 50 degrees in the house thru out the winter months) made it almost impossible for us to afford to keep the home.To be able to afford the home, we started renting it to offset the expenses. Our taxes alone are almost 10,000 dollars a year. The renters come to Vermont for a vacation they spend money here, that help all local business's and they pay taxes to the state of Vermont for the privilege of renting a home here. The state, local business's and the state and my wife and I all profit from this. If we cannot supplement our income with renting short term we will have to sell our house here.”
— Peter Cooper, Millville, NJ
“I live full time in a neighborhood with a lot of short term rentals... Sometime in the future - I may but have not yet rented my home. Mostly the renters in my neighborhood are a minor annoyance....and it is more peaceful when they are gone....yet in a million years I would never have dreamed that VT would feel it has the authority to restrict renting to owner occupied. This seems like a bizarre over reaching and inappropriate restriction. Protect the hotels - sure - but do not take away the rights of second home owners.”
—Anonymous, Killington, VT
“We frequently patronize Warren VT businesses on a year-round basis (Sugarbush Ski area, restaurants, supermarkets, other shops). If we can no longer rent our long-standing favorite house…we will be forced to take our business into New Hampshire and Maine — a revenue loss for your state….[that will] significantly harm many Vermont businesses in addition to non-resident property owners.”
— Paul Shannon, Norton, VT
“My wife and I love Vermont. We have been permanent residents of Vermont since 1992 and we have provided short-term stays in Stowe since 2008. This year we retired to Florida and still plan on occupying our Vermont home for parts of the year. We still plan on providing short-term rentals and, in fact, counted on it as providing income in our retirement….Our rentals not only provide income for us but also for the State of Vermont in the tax income generated. We find that our clientele are not the same clientele as would occupy inns. Our clients are families and groups who enjoy the freedom of occupying an entire dwelling and can be together in their stay. We provide a different choice for visitors to Vermont and we think it is an important alternative which potentially would hurt Vermont Tourism without this option.”
— Donald Huffman, VT Host living in Vero Beach, FL
“Short-term rentals (STRs) provide significant low-impact support for the entire economy of our town — the visitors that stay in our STRs have varying needs and won't choose traditional hotels, etc. If we restrict STR access these vacationers will go elsewhere and Vermont towns like ours will suffer (at the worst possible time). STRs should certainly be regulated to maintain quality and safety but restricting ownership to primary residences is unfair and a major economic mistake for Vermont.”
— Howard Krum, Farmer from Woodstock, VT
“Please support this fantastic group! Helping all of us STR!! Thanks Team!”
— Randy Henninger, From Fletcher, VT
“I have been a landlord for 25 years and have recently converted one of my units into an [STR]. The majority of people I host are young working professionals coming to work short term in Vermont or they come to Vermont for a vacation (pre-pandemic) thus contributing to Vermonts economy. Many of my guests have expressed their desire to live in Vermont and embrace the lifestyle of true Vermonters. Short term rentals are a great way to showcase Vermont and all the wonderful things this state has to offer. My unit is tastefully decorated with a Vermont theme, giving every guest a good prospective of life in Vermont. I believe good hosts help contribute to lure young professionals to move to Vermont. Many of my guest are repeat guests and I have never had any problems with a guest….If you run your unit right and are upfront and clear about the rules and follow regulations it is a perfect win-win situation for the host and the state. I do believe that there should be some type of registry and periodic inspections to weed out the few bad apples. However, I do not agree with having to live on the property if you are a host. This will greatly deplete a great pool of well run [short-term rental] units and discourage young professionals from visiting our state and hopefully move here. This generation of young professionals do not want to stay in your average “plain Jane” hotel. I am very concerned at the timing of this bill during a Pandemic when everyone has more on their plate than ever. The timing seems suspicious to me and I question if the big pocket hotels are influencing this bill and they are trying to sneak it through during a difficult time. The standard hotel is not what this younger generation wants and I believe it will hurt Vermont's long term goals. Regulations and inspections are a must, but requiring a host to live on the property is not the way to go.…Vermont needs to adapt to the changing wants of the consumer or we will ruin our already fragile economy. Embrace change and work with us not against us.”
—Maura Cirillo, Landlord and host from Colchester, VT
“We invested heavily in the Vermont rental business, to change the rules on us simply because our business model happens to be better positioned right now versus big hotel business is unjust… We bring a lot of support to the local economy. When we renovate, we buy thousands of dollars of materials and labor from local businesses like RK Miles and local contractors. Not to mention supporting restaurants, shopping, and the like with our own resources as well as our guests.”
— Paul MacDonald, from Manchester, VT
“The Vermont economy is connected. Let's focus on ways to create opportunities in our state.”
— Carin McCarthy, Owner of Vermont Bed & Breakfast at Russell Young Farm in Bristol, VT
“I own both long and short rental units. Both are a vital part of my business. They are also both very important to my local economy. Having all long term rentals was not a viable option for me. During COVID I was forced to close a restaurant that had been running for 23 years straight I do not believe I have the ability to start it over as we see life getting back to normal. The combination of long and short term long and short term rentals as helped me financially through this crisis without them I not only would be financially ruined I would have been forced to give the properties back to the bank and claim bankruptcy causing both the types of units to go into foreclosure which would in turn hurt everyone include the tax base in my little town. Short term rentals are a vital part of a state which has a major part of its income from tourism. Taxing and regulation are a very important part of all of these things both of which can be done very responsibly in Order to keep Vermont a welcome place for its residents and its tourists”
— Roger Stevens, Owner of Swiss Farm Inn in Pittsfield, VT
“Vermont has a wide range of avenues of exploration, from delicious food and great museums to amazing outdoor adventures and local shopping experiences. Our guests value our suggestions and input, and use that to explore their surroundings and take advantage of the unique opportunity of being a short term visitor to VT. We are proud to be part of the alliance working to support responsible and professional short term rentals in the state, which benefit both the residents and the guests we host.”
— Jeff Herzberger, Manager at High Acres Farm in Shelburne, VT
“We own VT property that we pay for by renting. It enables our family to ski, hike and bike year round. My husband and I hope to retire to this home, and pass it down to our children eventually. My husband and I also plan to open a business in VT sometime before that retirement. Preventing short term rentals would destroy all of these dreams for us, and I don’t see how it benefits VT in any way.”
— Jessica Suomala, VT Host living in Cheshire, CT
“Short term rentals have become important, not to make profit, but to sustain mortgages, the excelling cost of living, higher taxes and daily bills that have have raised in the past few years. It is also allowed income that is much needed for home owners in their older years to sustain average living.”
— Dino May, Host from Essex, VT
“My grandfather was born in North Hero, VT in 1896. Our family has owned a 3-season homestead on the west shore since the 1940's. Many of my favorite cousins live in the Islands. Each year, we are able to spend time together and enjoy the tranquility of our homestead at the lake. Since the property taxes are so high, we must rely on a few short term rentals to offset. Otherwise we would have to sell the house and give up our family homestead. While I understand the need to regulate short term rentals and charge fees to landlords, this sweeping legislation would prevent long term owners from maintaining their seasonal properties. Please don't punish all the good people just to scour a few bad apples.”
— Gwen Ossenfort, Clifton Park, NY
“I am a native Vermonter, currently living in the state. We own a second piece of waterfront property in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. This is our camp, which we are forced to rent out seasonally so that we may have income to pay the incredibly high taxes on this parcel, which has been in our family for over 50 years…. As natives, we have cherished, respected, and preserved the beauty of the land, which in turn, has made it a beautiful place for visitors to travel to. It is a symbiotic relationship, which can only survive if the landowners can continue the cost of upkeep.”
—Chris Files, Vermont
“I have lived, worked, volunteered and contributed in Vermont for 40 years. Due to financial reasons it was necessary [for me] to move to NY for employment. Short term rentals allowed me to keep my home so that I can soon return and retire to VT.”
— Noel Smith, Orangeburg, NY
“We have hosted thousands of visitors to Vermont. We support our other local small businesses and believe STRs have a firm place in the tourism market.”
— Jenny Dewar, Owner of Karin’s Place in Pownal, VT
“I started home-sharing about six years ago and expanded the business three years ago by building a treehouse. Being a single parent of two who works in the non-profit world in the Northeast Kingdom, the income from my short-term rental business has been a complete game-changer for me and my family. It has allowed my children to participate in activities they wouldn't be able to otherwise; it has allowed me to pay for our above-and-beyond-the-basics expenses such as car repairs, unexpected home repairs, and exceptionally high utility bills during the cold months. It has also allowed me to invest in my property in order to make some home repairs, updates, and improvements, and even expand the business. All of this would not have been possible without short-term rentals: my family and I would still be struggling to make ends meet and I would be going into deeper debt. We would be drowning rather than thriving. I agree that some regulations should exist to protect the public and prevent avoidable accidents or injury, such as requiring smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. But, it would be unfortunate to have regulations and fees unnecessarily price people out of this business, or make alternative lodging impossible. Short-term rentals often do not fit what we traditionally think of with hotels, motels, and even Inns and B&B’s, so their narrow definition and needs don’t necessarily fit short-term rentals. For example, our treehouse is more like “glamping” and therefore does not have the modern amenities that the most recent legislation requires. It is also located in the woods, in nature, and therefore would be impossible to eliminate insects, like the legislation says. It’s impractical and unreasonable. Short-term rentals provide for unique options for short-term housing and as we know, tourism is an important piece of the state's revenue. These unique options (such as the treehouse that I built to expand my business) draw people to the area and provide for a special connection to the culture, the land, and the people of this state. I have met many wonderful people who have left their visit in awe of the space I provide them to stay, and the area, and I am sure they will return. In a region where the norm is to work multiple jobs because the primary [income] doesn't suffice, we cannot eliminate or limit options like short-term rentals. There must be a realistic balance to provide opportunity to expand income-generating activities, while also making sure the public is safe and provided for. I am grateful for the opportunities that my short-term rental business has provided me and my family and advocate for allowing these businesses to operate in a safe manner with appropriate regulation, and allow other individuals and families to provide unique housing options for visitors to Vermont.”
— Heather Davis, Owner of Stone City Treehouse in Hardwick, VT
“This is a pretty dramatic overreach of state government into private individual property rights. This action will also have a extremely deleterious impact of travel to the state at a time when travelers are eager to visit safe locations and which contribute to the restart of local and state economies.”
— Joel Saferstein, Washington DC
“I own and rent…my Sugarbush / Snow Creek ski condo in Vermont. I likely would not be able to continue to own the property if not able to rent it to offset the cost. Today I am able to control when I rent it and when I get to use the property on my own...the best of both worlds. I am grateful to own this beautiful property and don't do it to make money but to enable myself to hold on to it.”
— James Delaney, Peabody, MA
“When we started up our rental business, our goal was to bring joy and happiness to people who wanted to enjoy Vermont, as much as we do. Over the past years we have hosted many guests who learned to love Vermont like we do, they have frequented local business, and several of them have turned around and bought vacation homes here themselves. We have employed local workers bringing income to the town. And have tried to be good members of the local community.”
— Eric Richard, Owner of Whispering Pines Lodge in Vermont
“We have been a well respected vacation property owner since 2003. Our home is our home away from home that we take pride in. Our home has provided long term rental taxes to the state of Vermont.”
— Jennifer Collins, New Jersey
“We have owned our cottage since 2012 and love Vermont. When my husband was laid off the income we have been able to produce from renting our cottage…has literally saved our family from losing our primary home, taking our two kids out of school and being able to simply pay our bills and household and living expenses for the past couple of years! We don’t know what we would’ve done without being able to rent out this investment and if this right is taken away, our family will be decimated..... We are very responsible about how we rent it... We vet the renters; make sure that they are respectful of both our dwelling, our neighbors and our community…Don’t make us regret that we chose to buy our second home in your state! ....There are plenty of other states who would welcome that income please don’t encourage us to leave the state that we’ve fallen in love with!”
— Stephanie Sinclair, Avon, CT
“Our short-term rental is the only way we can maintain an economical use of [our short-term rental] at Mt. Snow. There are NOT enough motels and hotels in the area to serve the needs of the skiing public.”
— Stephen Cantor, Southington, CT
“Vacation rentals afford families the opportunity to visit the local area and stay together in a nice, safe locale. I believe that without the widespread availability of vacation rentals, many larger groups would choose to vacation in neighboring states with fewer restrictions. Short-term rental properties are able provide certain guests with the amenities they need and bring in visitors who would not otherwise visit a hotel (ie a family on a budget with multiple kids).”
— Audrey Sternberg, Brick, NJ
“I’m a Vermont resident, voter, and member of the [short-term rental] community. Due to the drop in tourism and visitors, my hosting income has suffered. That’s money I normally earn and is spent here, in our community. Local businesses, cleaners and restaurants all benefit when visitors stay in my home and I’m proud of the work I do to support my community…. Limiting short-term rentals to one’s primary residence would drastically limit, not just my income, but also the positive impact tourism has on the businesses in my town…. As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that we provide the room for the economic impact of tourism to grow, not limit it…”
— Steven Gale, Host in Barre, VT
“The ability for me to rent my house for short term rentals allowed me to build my dream home in Vermont 25 years ago; without the ability to do this I would not own that property and they would’ve not generated well over $250,000 in local taxes. I don’t necessarily want to rent my house going forward, but I do think it’s important that people have the option to do so. this generates revenue for the local economy, it generates revenue for the municipalities, and it helps keep the local Vermont economy is moving forward.”
— Dr. David Greenfield, VT Host living in West Hartford, CT
“It is the dream of my wife and myself to hold a vacation property in Vermont, where we love skiing and hiking. Our jobs make it impossible to live in the state, so a second home is our best option to maximize our enjoyment of the state's beauty. Unfortunately, the high taxes for out of state property holders require us to supplement the cost of ownership with income with short term rentals. If these restrictions pass which require short term vacation rental owners occupy the home before renting it, we would need to sell the property. We cannot find employment in our fields in the state and would not want to uproot our family to hold onto a luxury for us which is the 2nd home. Vermont would likely lose the tax revenue we pay which is more than double a typical full time resident.”