Unscientific Survey: Weighing In

Thanks to the dozens of you who responded to The Swarthmorean’s online survey about short-term rentals in Swarthmore (discussed here). At first there was only a trickle of responses, but suddenly one morning my inbox was flooded with notifications! It was exciting to see people interacting with the paper in real time, and to know that so many of you are eager to weigh in on issues affecting the town.

We are presenting the results of the unscientific survey here, along with comments by those who gave us permission to publish them. Ultimately, 78 people participated.

The Swarthmorean is glad to be able to provide a channel between the borough’s government and its residents. It’s not always easy to get to a meeting in the evening. Nor is it necessarily comfortable to stand up at the microphone and state your thoughts during a public comment session. I personally have never done it.

I have, though, gone to a smattering of Borough Council meetings over the years, just to see what they were like. I know that occasionally such a meeting will attract a crowd, but mostly I’ve seen perhaps two or three members of the public in attendance. Sometimes I’ve been the only one there.

These days, as editor of The Swarthmorean, I’ve started to go to as many council and committee meetings as I can get to. (It turns out Borough Council has a lot of committees!) I hope to report on what happens in Borough Hall in a way that helps people feel how directly and materially the decisions made there affect our daily lives. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about what our council members are doing. I’m pretty sure they look forward to it, too.

And maybe -- as more people get a clearer picture of what issues our elected officials are wrestling with -- more citizens will begin to find their way over to 121 Park Ave. on a weekday evening.

I hope so. I don’t like being the only one.

-Rachel Pastan

Note: The next meeting of Swarthmore Borough Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee will be Thursday, December 12, at 7:30 in the Council Room of Swarthmore Borough Hall, 121 Park Ave.

Short-Term Rental Survey Results (78 respondents)

Do you think Swarthmore should regulate short-term rentals?

• Yes: 61%
• No: 37%
• No opinion: 1%

If Swarthmore were to regulate short-term rentals, should it:

• Limit the number of rental nights per year: 59%
• Require the homeowner to be home: 35%
• Limit short-term rentals to one part of town (i.e. town center): 5%
• Other: 23%

Suggestions:

• Apply current bed & breakfast rules to short-term rentals

• License them and if the police are called for disturbing the peace one time take the license away for six months

• Avoid or remove renters who exhibit rowdy or disturbing behavior

• Subject short-term rentals to nuisance laws

• Inspect rental space for smoke detectors, etc.

If Swarthmore were to regulate short-term rentals, should short-term be:

• A week or less: 39%
• A month or less: 26%
• Two weeks or less: 24%
• Other: 9%

Have you ever rented out all or part of your home on Airbnb or similar sites?

• Yes: 6%
• No: 93%

Do you think Swarthmore should update its definition of “family”?

• Yes: 57%
• No: 42%

Some comments (shared with permission):

Most important, Swarthmore should not permit buyers to buy homes in Swarthmore for the sole or majority purpose of short-term rentals. -Martha Hodes

Airbnb and other short-term rentals definitely have a place within the borough and surrounding municipalities. They provide revenue to resident owners and a reasonably priced accommodation option to out-of-town visitors. Secondary benefits accrue from guests who patronize local shops and businesses. -Anna Lynn Smith

Don’t ruin Swarthmore by allowing short-term rentals. Owners have the choice to move out of Swarthmore if they can’t afford it here without renting out their house. If the argument is that [not permitting short-term rentals] pushes seniors out, then institute more direct measures, such as what I’ve seen in other locations/states: reduce the [real estate] tax for long-term owners over age 65. -Anonymous

Airbnb is a wonderful thing for our community. I have stayed in many Airbnbs and had positive experiences. I have also hosted guests, and always had lovely people stay with me who appreciated the opportunity to be in Swarthmore for their stay. They've included a traveling nurse, a retired friend visiting local gardens, and local residents who were remodeling their home -- safe, responsible, and friendly people. -Aurora Winslade

No Airbnb, period. -CHM

I think short-term rentals are ok during the college's arts weekend and during the college's graduation weekend. I think there are now enough hotels in the area to accommodate visitors. I would not want the homes near mine being used as Airbnbs. -Nancy Carroll

I am dead-set against restricting to one part of town -- which part, how would that be decided, and doesn't that further the split between the north and south sides of town? And to what end? What does that solve as far as potential neighbor annoyance? The most important thing, I think, is to require that hosts be home -- we have found, as hosts, that people are very respectful when they know they're in "your" house. I can imagine it could be likely to be less so when guests are left alone. -Susan Smythe

Grateful to our representatives for addressing this issue, but I don’t see it as an issue requiring regulation at this time. -Herb Mondros

Short-term rentals are a great way to allow families of students to visit. We have also appreciated having nearby accommodations for friends and family during holidays when we host. Typically, a homeowner can require stipulations such as no parties, limited occupancy, street parking only or a maximum number of vehicles in a driveway. Perhaps these gentler rules, vs. fully regulating what the community members can or can’t do with their properties, will be received well by both sides. -LJ

The township should mind its own business regarding Airbnb. -Anonymous

Our children, raised in Swarthmore, have much appreciated week or less rentals in Amsterdam, London, and Paris. The model might be one family of 3-5 people, not a reunion of 10 folks! -Raymond Hopkins

I don't think we should try to define a family. -NA