Property owners scramble after Volusia County reverses order on short term rentals

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Bookings canceled and customers disappointed.

Those are some of the effects some short term rental owners said are happening in Volusia County.

County leaders have decided to reverse their decision from two weeks ago and move forward processing complaints against short term rentals.

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Short term rentals are illegal in the unincorporated parts of Volusia County.

Some rental owners in the county now say the decision has put everything in turmoil.

The biggest issues include bookings canceled and customers being disappointed.

Those are some of the effects some short term rental owners said are happening now.

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March can be a busy month for Volusia County. Bike Week and spring break bring hundreds of thousands to the area, many of them needing a place to stay.

Richard Feller does short term rentals and is president of the Vacation Rental Home Alliance, which represents short term rental owners.

The county initially said this month it would not process complaints against the rentals until the legislation from the state was sorted out, but it decided to reverse that decision Tuesday and move forward processing the complaints.

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The legislation governing short term rentals is making its way through the legislature.

The county is also being sued over its initial decision not to process complaints against short term rentals.

Cox Media Group