Matthew MacLeod

HB1580 would unfairly penalize small, individual property owners like us who are not investors but own a single condo. We rely on short-term rentals only to help offset the rising costs of ownership property taxes, association fees, insurance, utilities, and maintenance which have all increased dramatically. Without the ability to rent occasionally, owning this condo would simply not be financially possible for us. This is not a vacant or neglected property; it is a home we actively maintain, care about, and use ourselves. Treating small owners the same as large, multi-property operators ignores the reality of how many people are just trying to make ends meet. The bill also risks pushing people like us out of ownership entirely, which does nothing to improve housing affordability or strengthen communities. If HB1707 passes, owners who can no longer afford their homes may be forced to sell often to out of state investors or large corporate buyers who can absorb additional taxes far more easily than individuals can. That outcome would reduce local ownership and further concentrate housing in fewer hands. A one-size-fits-all tax on “unoccupied” or short-term rented properties fails to recognize responsible, small-scale owners who contribute to the local economy and community while simply trying to keep a roof over their heads.