Software for rental property regs reviewed

By Grace Lovins

During a staff report on short-term rentals given at the end of the Monday, June 22, Birmingham City Commission meeting, city staff said they were actively looking into software to assist in the regulation of rental properties.

Building official Jeff Zielke told commissioners that the city had reached out to Rentalscape and a few other websites regarding rental property software. Per their website, Deckard Technologies describes their product, Rentalscape, as a tool that helps “manage compliance across short-term rental properties,” helping jurisdictions enforce regulations and maintain community standards.

Zielke added that since the commission’s last update, there have been 20 additional tickets issued to rental properties for lack of compliance or non-payment. He added that there have been no new reports on short-term rental properties since the commission’s last meeting aside from a pool party incident that took place toward the middle of June.

Mirroring his attempt during the joint planning board and commission workshop that took place on June 15, commissioner Brad Host again tried to gain support for a motion to rescind the 180-day moratorium and ban all rentals under 30 days in residential areas. Host was again told that the action isn’t permissible and it doesn’t follow the process laid out in the Zoning Enabling Act which is in progress.

Short-term rentals have been a hot topic at city commission meetings for the last few months following a shooting incident that took place at a short-term rental (STR)at the end of April. The incident led the commission to place a 180-day moratorium to temporarily stay new licenses for rentals under 30 days and direct the city’s planning board to look into STR regulations through the zoning code and code of ordinances.

Planning director Nick Dupuis noted that the planning board is expected to discuss STR regulation at their Wednesday, July 8, meeting.