Alexandria is still working out the kinks in its short-term rentals policies, but rentals on sites like Airbnb have already taken over a considerable amount of the city’s transient lodging market.
In a newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson said there are over 700 short-term rentals in Alexandria, comprising less than 1% of the city’s housing stock, but that those rentals account for over a quarter of the city’s transient lodging tax revenue — a market traditionally defined by hotels.
“Last fiscal year, this portion totaled $3.3 million from short-term rentals and so far in this fiscal year (which ended yesterday), we have collected $2.5 million from short-term rentals (through the end of March),” Wilson wrote.
Wilson noted that Alexandria was one of the first localities in Virginia to negotiate a tax collection agreement with Airbnb back in 2018.
Issues still crop up with short-term rentals around Alexandria. According to Wilson:
Since 2018, the City has received 33 calls to 311, citing concerns such as trash, noise, parties and parking. We have received 65 calls to Police during this same period, citing concerns regarding potential criminal activity. There are also studies that cite the impact of short-term rentals on housing affordability.
In May, the City Council discussed regulation of short-term rentals and Wilson said this summer, city staff will hold more community engagement to discuss further short-term rentals regulation with new proposals coming back to the City Council this fall.
