In a statement, the town said it's drafting new regulations that balance a long tradition of seasonal rentals with shrinking housing stock and fears the community could become too commercial. Town officials declined to discuss the situation on camera, citing the lawsuit.

Neighbors sued to force Barnstable to act. She and other local residents believe Barnstable could settle the issue by enforcing current zoning laws, and they're pressing their case in court. Hunt maintains that coastal communities across the country have done just that, permitting homeowners to rent out their properties, but not allowing investors to flip houses into hotels. 'What I'm doing, I'm entitled to do,' Corcoran said, adding: 'You can't restrict somebody from doing what they want to do with their property within the law.' Neighbors can also lodge complaints on Airbnb's website.īut as more investors enter a very lucrative market, conflicts like those in Hunt's neighborhood are cropping up nationwide. Responding to questions from NBC10 Boston, Airbnb said its hosts must certify they will comply with local rules before they list spaces for rent. 'Probably not supposed to,' Corcoran said. 'Can you rent this out in the meantime?' NBC10 Boston Investigator Ally Donnelly asked. 'So I'm in the process of getting that done.' 'I'm widening the windows for egress to make it legal,' he said. They eventually told Corcoran to install proper fire exits and hard-wired smoke alarms. Hunt, who lives next door to one of Corcoran's properties, says the town has been slow to address her complaints.Īccording to documents from the Building Department, inspectors found two illegal bedrooms in the attic of Corcoran's rental property, but took months to issue a cease and desist order. 'I understand that it may upset them, but a lot of it's been exaggerated,' he said. As Boston Businesses Fight to Thrive After COVID Emergency, City Looks to Help With GrantsĬorcoran said he can't control what his guests do, but thinks the concern from neighbors about discourteous behavior is overstated.

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