OK, so, double unpermitted cabins as STVRs?

[dobanion]

So, I'm looking for opinions/takes on this. I have no intention of ratting on anybody, but I'm just wondering.

In my *not disclosed* neighborhood, several unpermitted cabins have sold in the last year or so. At what I took to be, exhorbitant prices. Ex: Lot bought for $25k, cabin "appears" on it about 6 months later (no permits, no septic), with a flush toilet (going somewhere), solar panels, outdoor shower, etc. Nice actually. Ballpark, $30k in materials, and $20k worth of physical work, probably done by the buyer. Sold for $160k. Good on ya buddy.

Anyway, I see this same cabin, as I am browsing for a place to stay on my next trip, listed on AirBnb. $230/night, and yup, people are renting it. 75% booking. Reviews mentioning the local rooster wake up call. Yup, that's my street alright.

So the place was built with no permits, and is being rented without the permit to the county as a STVR. Not that it would have gotten approval in any case.

Then, I look some more, and sonofabitch, 2 more within a few blocks that fit the above description. A trashier one at $90/night for a shack and a toilet (again, probably going to a DIY cesspool).

I considered doing something like this on my lots, but dismissed it as I figured the county was supposed to come down like a hammer on any advertised but not permitted rentals. Thought they said they had a few folks looking at AirBnb and VRBO to catch this. Guess not.

This a common thing, or are these folks just waiting to get busted? Lemme guess, answer is yes and yes.

[Obie]

If it's a sleeping room and the host lives on the property it's legal.

The county requires the STVR license, Get tax number and TAT tax number to be displayed for a legal rental.

I see a few STVR's in my neighborhood that couldn't be permitted that it looks like the owners are renting out anyway. Probably depending on previous renters and referrals.
AirBnB and VRBO are required to make sure they are collecting taxes, so the county could keep track of the STVR's that way.

I assume they will eventually get caught.

I bought a condo in Hilo on 2018 in a building that was mostly STVR's. When I applied , I was denied because it had been a long term rental when I bought it. Many years ago, Hawaii County rezoned everything on Kalanianole as residential zoning.

So I spent 2 years living in a building with vacation rentals on both sides of me and I couldn't do it myself. Sold it for a profit though because of Covid and people fleeing California.

[kalakoa]

Pure comedy gold. County is "complaint driven" and "revenue focused", and tourism is our major industry.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

County is "complaint driven" and "revenue focused", and tourism is our major industry.

The first rule of County Club is, don't talk about County Club.
The second rule of County Club is, don't ask about County Club.
The third rule of County Club is, compliant driven, revenue focused, and tourism is not for you.

[Durian Fiend]

My opinion? I would consider ratting on them. But hey, it's your neighborhood.

[Punaperson]

It has been my experience that while most of the county departments are not on top of things, the Dept of Health moves quickly when it comes to sewage violations.

If those cabins do not have the proper septic set up, the DOH can do more to shut them down than any other county enforcement agency.

Send a copy of the AirBnB advertisement, along with a copy of the TMK that does not have a septic permit, and write that you are concerned resident that has been smelling sewage during this last drought period.

[My 2 cents]

Dobanion - I agree with not ratting anybody out. You could end up with a much worse situation. I’m not sure that you even have a situation now, other than curiosity.

If there was indeed an open sewage pit that you could smell from your house that might be a different story. But I doubt they would be getting $230/night if that was the case.

Should you do one yourself? Only you can decide that.

[kalakoa]

the DOH can do more to shut them down

Correct: DOH was the nail in the coffin for Buccaneer Gardens after their ill-fated attempt at hosting a rave several years ago.

I could take the "tourism" argument more seriously if State would leave management of Banyan Drive and other "resort areas" to the County. The way things are going, tourists will have to stay in Kona, and then people will be complaining about the "excessive" tour bus traffic...

[Durian Fiend]

To be clear, are you currently living there or not? If yes, has the so called quality of life been impacted for the worse? Have you talked to other owners in the neighborhood who are not doing this?

It just seems quite brash and disrespectful to actual residents for people to be doing this without community discussion/approval.
Not to mention freakin' greedy as hell. That is why I would consider turning them in.

[dobanion]

No, I have property and a structure with a "caretaker" over there. He calls me, a lot, gives me the goings on. I go there a couple times a year. I know and chat with several of my neighbors when I'm there. I internet stalk the property sales and AirBnb stuff.

Honestly, it's always been a bit of a freaky neighborhood, it's mostly the locals who define the quality of the neighborhood. About 50% of what's there isn't permitted. No HOA or such. We got the resident with enough heavy equipment to move half the island parked in his front yard, the guy who has 100 roosters in his front yard, another guy with "hunting" dogs that get loose occasionally and try and murder someone's little dog or cat, etc. All of this was there long before I came along, so I try and play nice.

It's the high dollar STVR rentals that are the new development. And somebody started an ATV tour company out of their place too. None of this bothers me. I'd love to make a little money, seeing as how my property taxes have done what everybody else's has (tripled in a few years, no end in sight).

I think I'm talking myself into just listing the whole shebang and moving onto greener pastures.