Dear residents of Irvine,

As Irvine residents, a group of us are writing to appeal to you regarding the confusion, harassment and terror that Code Enforcement has caused by their tactics.  As we rely upon the rental income in order to remain in our homes this new wave of letters and threats is very upsetting.  We don’t think that additional homeless residents is what the city intends.  Many property owners need the rental income to avoid homelessness.  It seems that there is a powerful nameless group that is welding enormous pressure to insure that these unfair regulations are enforced.

We were under the impression that the city was revising its position on short term (STR) and long term rentals.  Arbitrary occupancy limits exceeding the guidelines instituted by the State of California are being enforced.   Rentals that are being offered by Irvine residents...while the property owner resides on the premises should be in a new category that the city needs to create. The problems of bad behavior, code violations, noise, and congestion are NOT related to our homes.  We monitor who we rent to and by always being on the property, insure that we are an asset to our neighbors and the city.  These regulations seem to be based on untruths and fear mongering.

We understand that the city is reinstating a $50.00 business license fee that we would gladly pay.  It would allow us to “come out of the closet” and the city would be able to keep track of who and where people are renting and thus be able to track problem property owners.  We have been told that there are three hundred to one thousand residents in this category; if so we could contribute as much as $50,000.00 to the city coffers. We consider ourselves to be ambassadors.  Besides the goodwill extended, our guests while staying in Irvine, spend money on services within the city.    

We are only speaking for property owners who reside on their property, not speculators or groups that purchase property resulting in the displacement of residents...thus removing housing options…especially for those working people being priced out of the housing market. 

Thank you.

A 73-year-old Irvine homeowner who rents rooms