Recently, Governor Baker called on the Legislature to take action this session to tax and regulate Airbnb. "I think it's important the Legislature deal with the fact that there are a lot of people playing in the Airbnb space, who, for all intents and purposes, might as well be running hotels...And if you're running a hotel, you should play by a lot of the same rules a hotel plays by or a bed and breakfast plays by. You either believe in level playing field competition or you don't. I do," Baker said. Read more

The most recent issue of Commonwealth Magazine features an explosive deep dive into illegal hotels being operated by Airbnb in Boston. Big investors have muscled their way into the market, buying up individual units and even entire buildings in all of Boston's neighborhoods and using Airbnb as a booking agent to create ersatz hotels in the middle of residential streets. Read more

The Salem News is reporting that the city is considering asking the state for authority to tax short-term rentals like Airbnb. Mayor Kim Driscoll noted that such a move "would help level the playing field" between Airbnb and traditional lodging establishments. Read more

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said Wednesday, "I want to make it clear that hopefully in the not-too-distant future we'll be taking up a short-term rental property legislation, and, as part and parcel of that, I presume there is going to be a tax component." Read more

 

If you need information on your local legislator or a suggested letter, please contact Paul Sacco at mailto:psacco@masslodging.com