HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchwartz - AB0475From:Lauren Schwartz
To:City Clerk
Subject:Lauren Schwartz 171 the Riv
Date:Wednesday, May 24, 2023 9:33:38 AM
Attachments:IMG_3468.PNG
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Hello Appeal Board,
I have a lot of anxiety of this so just want you to read the quick backstory: I had
bought the condo with long term renters in place and therefore, being new to real
estate, I assumed that once I decided to rent out I would need a full service
management co. I hired a new management company as they sold themselves on
being a "concierge" to the guests. For me, this meant managing the AirbNb in total
and the guest experience. They told me they had many properties in the area and
knew it all. This management company took over as host on all my accounts and was
the one who booked these guests. They assured me they knew Palm Springs law and
it we weren't doing anything wrong. Not even days after the first person booked, the
fine notice to me was generated. Once I received it, I told the management co. to
immediately cancel all upcoming reservations which they did. We called Airbnb and
they rebooked everyone for other places and I paid the penalties to AirbNb. I asked
the management company to help deal with this issue since they reserved it. They
told me multiple times, they spoke with the County and owned up to it and since I
didn't hear back for a while, that insinuated they explained and had "taken care" of it.
After I received the date notice a few weeks back, I was very upset. Knowing what
they did was wrong, they decided to quit at that point which left me on my own. I am
new to the real estate market (1.5 years) and did not know there was a 30 day
requirement and only had the history of only 2 long term reservations up to that point
for more than 4 months straight. When things slowed down, I asked them to get
creative with marketing. They used this approach to gaining clients in which I
immediately received the notice, I immediately cancelled the short term reservation/s.
I also paid the city the deposit or amount due to appeal. Since then, I have made no
reservations (except my family and friends staying) and I put my Airbnb recently on
snooze mode til I dealt with the fallout. This is so upsetting as being new is not an
excuse, but had I known it was a law, it would never have happened. I just
purchased this place a year and a few months ago and had my first tenant reserved
for 4 months or longer stay after I closed on the condo so no time restraints were
discussed. I have nor did I ever have any intention on breaking any laws and would
never have had I known. So now, the management company quit as they don't want
to be liable or involved in this, although they created and managed the AirbNb
reservations. I don't even think they will show up to the appeal so I am on my own
which is upsetting and unethical.
Please give me reprieve this one time as I have gone into AirbNb and ensure it was
30 days. This won't happen again.
Here are the immediate cancellations: