Back in January, Mayor Marty Walsh proposed an ordinance to track and regulate the rentals of bedrooms, apartments or entire houses for days or weeks.
Walsh has proposed a fee for three different categories of rentals. Rooms for rent while the owner is still around, would pay $25 a year; whole apartments, condos or homes that are rented out by their owners who live their the majority of the time would pay $100 a year; and units bought by investors, would pay $500 a year per unit.
After public vetting, it seems Walsh may be pulling back a bit on his initial proposal. The Walsh administration would like to delay the vote until they have the technology to enforce the new rules. According to the Boston Globe, head of the City of Boston Inspectional Services – William Christopher believes the city needs the technology first to track in real time the thousands of apartments and homes being rented nightly before rules and regulations are implemented.
On Monday, there was a three hour hearing at City Hall to discuss proposed regulations. City Council members have until Wednesday to either vote on the bill, or withdraw it to work on it more. So we shall see.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
