Housing committee pushes moratorium on short-term rentals

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Housing officials in a Maine city are pushing for a temporary moratorium on short term rentals.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Portland’s housing committee proposed a six month moratorium on the rentals during a public hearing Thursday. Committee members will present the plan to the City Council.

The city passed rules last year requiring annual fees for short-term rentals and capping the number of units not occupied by their owners at 300. Committee members say the number of sites could exceed the cap.

City officials have said they want to protect residential neighborhoods and increase affordable housing.

Short-term rental owners say Portland is using the units as a scapegoat for the city’s larger housing issues.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com