By BRENDA JOSEPHSON
The Anchorage Assembly held public hearings on two ordinances to advance its housing agenda at its regular meeting on September 23rd.
One of the ordinances would advance a charter amendment to authorize a tax short-term rentals that would require a public vote.
The other proposed ordinance provides tenant protections by requiring landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants if their housing is deemed unfit for human habitation.
Ordinance No. AO 2025-97 proposes submitting a ballot proposition to amend the Home Rule Charter of the Municipality of Anchorage. This amendment would authorize a tax on short-term rental transactions, such as those on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. The ordinance includes the ballot language and procedural steps for voter approval. It is sponsored by Assembly Member Daniel Volland and Assembly Chair Chris Constant.
Ordinance No. AO 2025-93 amends Anchorage Municipal Code Chapters 15.05 and 15.10 to require residential rental property owners to provide tenants with financial relocation assistance—equal to two months’ rent plus any deposit and prepaid rent—within seven days of issuing a notice to vacate due to the dwelling being unfit for human habitation.
The ordinance also adds Section 8.30.200 to Title 8, classifying failure to comply with enforcement orders, notices to vacate, or relocation assistance requirements as class B misdemeanors, with civil penalties up to $2,000 per offense and daily fines up to $500. Exceptions apply for violations caused by tenant actions, natural disasters, or eminent domain. If owners fail to provide assistance, the municipality may advance funds to tenants and recover costs through penalties. This ordinance is sponsored by Assembly Members Zac Johnson and Erin Baldwin.
Both ordinances will be back for discussion on October 21.
For more information click on the link below for the September 23rd meeting packet:
If Constant is for any proposal, then I’m against it.
Yup.
More Commie stuff
Same
Isn’t it great to have folks that couldn’t run a successful a private sector business, trying to run a city? Like a 3 year old with a loaded gun. Nothing good can happen.
There are 35 “units” on our street.
3 are always empty now waiting for a weekend tourist.
That’s 8% empty Ab&b on our block.
Who used to be in those 3 units? Families w/ kids, kids my kids went to school with & played with in those houses.
Why is there a housing shortage?
IMO the tax on short term rentals makes sense. But the latter is an abomination! It will dissuade long-term landlords like me from further investment in Anchorage. That takes away from the available housing. It doesn’t improve it.
Instead, the city should start a low-fixed interest or grant program to encourage landlords (especially local landlords!!) to invest in the property maintenance and improvements. This would encourage and empower landlords to invest and maintain dignified housing and keep the cost of maintenance affordable. It would be an income generating proposal for the Muni, too.
This second proposal is a reaction to a severe bad situation in which soulless out of state corporate landlords engaged in truly evil and careless neglect. The city discovered that they are powerless to pursue these landlords legally and are too broke (using muni funds) to bring them to justice. The proposal treats us all like those a-holes. And many of us, especially local land owners do not wish to destroy our own city, but to invest in its betterment. The attitude driving the second proposal is not only ineffective but will only harm those who produce affordable housing here in Anchorage.
Excellent insight. My issue is the vacant houses on our streets.
There is a % of slumlords in ANC. although most landlords are sincere; I know they have to deal w/ some really bad tenants.
I tried being a landlord, gave it up because of all the bad tenants I encountered.
(took 2-3 months to get them out & then the repairs!)
I unfortunately think this is good in a lot of cases. People are buying up properties and putting them into short term rentals but it sucks for a person/family from doing to while on a month long trip or something. I think it should be looked a little more. Not all people who do short term rentals are investors from out of state. I know retired people who leave for the summer to travel but come back in the fall, they ido Airbnb from June-sept but they live in the house the rest of the year. I guess they can advertise for house sitters….shame that a property owner who owns 1 house they live is going to pay taxes. Needs more parameters
They were discussing that last night.
Exceptions or relief for people leasing a room short term in their home (old B&B style)
And homeowners “short terming” their house while they are away for a few months.
One of the players was testifying last night. He owns ~20 STR units and manages 50 overall, mostly downtown where his units are a better deal then a hotel room (& so they spend more at local business he claims)
Is the Anchorage assembly focused on an old problem that may have already been solved? Can someone point me towards the survey showing we have a housing shortage in Anchorage still? With the population loss the last few years I would think those numbers must be getting better?
This will do even more harm to our tourism industry. The property owners will just pass the tax onto the renters/tourists. I remember when Anchorage was a livable city.
How about, they own it, they do what they want with it unless it becomes a health/safety hazard. And king chrissy can pack sand.
Volland and Constant continually find new ways to further tax the producers of economic activity in favor of the government tit suckers. It is like watching a slow car crash except in this case we are unwilling participants and the recipients of the fallout from the crash.
They stink. Constant is a bully and has little patience for us commoners.