Albuquerque City Council Rejects Proposal to Limit Short-Term Rentals
According to KRQE, On Wednesday night, the Albuquerque City Council debated a proposal that could have reduced the number of short-term rentals in specific parts of the city.
“We recognize that Albuquerque is facing a housing shortage, and every short-term rental takes away a home from our already limited housing supply,” stated City Councilor Joaquin Baca during the meeting.
Councilors Baca and Nichole Rogers co-sponsored the bill, which aimed to cap the number of short-term rentals, such as those listed on Airbnb, in certain areas. However, the ordinance failed with a 3-6 vote.
The proposed bill also would have restricted the issuance of new permits for short-term rentals if the property was located too close to another rental in areas like Old Town Albuquerque, a popular tourist destination.
“If your neighbor owns a short-term rental, you wouldn’t be able to open one in Districts 2 or 6,” said Carl Vidal from the New Mexico Short-Term Rental Association, expressing concerns about the bill’s potential to limit opportunities for future rentals.
A similar proposal had failed to pass last year. Opponents of the bill, like Vidal, argued it would stifle competition and favor hotels. “This bill feels anti-competitive and a restriction on free commerce for working-class and upper-class citizens alike,” Vidal added.
Supporters of the ordinance believed it could free up properties for long-term housing, helping address the city’s housing crisis. Baca emphasized that the proposal wouldn’t have affected current short-term rental businesses. “We took care to ensure existing permits were protected,” Baca assured, adding that he approached the bill with great care to balance business interests with the city’s housing needs.
