Thank you for asking for input from Sun City residents regarding short-term rental properties (“Short term rentals on hot seat,” Sun City Independent, March 10, 2021).
Our hope is that Sun City Home Owners Association continues to regulate short term rentals in Sun City. In fact, we would like to see them completely and strictly prohibited in Sun City. However, it appears that as this country’s cancel culture picks up steam and continues to eliminate traditional norms, practices and values, age-restrictive retirement communities like Sun City are next on the cancellation list.
We have served on HOA boards before and understand the complexities of creating CC&Rs, and especially enforcement of CC&Rs in today’s political and litigious climate. However, that does not absolve board members from doing what’s right for the community — even if their actions are unpopular or risks their positions on the board. That said, we really don’t think much will be done about STRs in this GOP-controlled community. Rules and regulation are not part of the DNA of this community’s political belief system, thus we suspect that there will be little substantive regulation placed on STRs.
It isn’t uncommon these days to see people in Sun City who appear not to meet the age-restrictive requirements of this community, yet enjoying the many amenities and retirement lifestyle that has been reserved for those who have chosen to complete their golden years here. We aren’t talking about the regular visits from children or grandchildren, those are to be expected. We are talking about people who are clearly renters of STRs and still are able to enjoy all of Sun City’s amenities without having to worry about the CC&Rs because they are short-term renters. It’s not fair, it’s not right and it needs to be addressed!
We have decided to give Sun City another year or so to see which direction it goes. However, if it continues to move towards an STR-friendly community, we are out of here. I suspect others will follow our lead, and it won’t be long before STRs are the norm, instead of the exception.
Do the right thing and place meaningful and enforceable restrictions on STRs that will preserve the tradition of Sun City life.
