A PROPOSED ordinance regulating the operations of transient houses in Baguio City was approved on first reading during the City Council’s regular session on Monday, January 14.
The measure, proposed by Baguio City Councilor Leandro Yangot, regulates the design, operation and maintenance of transient lodging facilities.
“A parallel purpose of this ordinance is to ensure safe, healthy and non-discriminatory housing arrangements for transient visitors and guests through a regular licensing and inspection program not hitherto in place for rentals of single family dwellings,” Yangot said.
Yangot added it is the policy of the local government to protect and promote public health as well as the safety and welfare of its citizens; and establish rights and obligations of house-for-rent owners and transient visitors to maintain and improve the quality of life around residences throughout the city.
“There are greater incidences of disturbances and violations of various ordinances of the city which adversely affect the peace and quiet of the neighborhood at residential properties where owners allow unregulated transient visitors,” the ordinance states.
If left unregulated, Yangot said transient facilities can create negative compatibility impacts in residential neighborhoods, including inappropriate commercialization and disruption of the character of single-family neighborhoods, excessive noise, on-street parking that overwhelms use by local residents, increased risk of inappropriate conduct for which enforcement against transients may be difficult, and accumulation of garbage.
The new law aims to enhance accountability of property owners and transient visitors, minimize the risk of communal disturbances and conflict and violations of various ordinances of the city which are capable of repetition but evading review, and otherwise protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens.
In the Yangot proposal, restrictions for transient facilities state that unless the site is a qualified as a hotel or bed and breakfast, homes used as transient lodging site will be prohibited throughout the city except for specific bedroom and entire residential unit accommodation.
Specific bedroom accommodations may rent no more than two bedrooms to transients for a period of not less than 24 hours and not more than 30 consecutive days. Under this arrangement, the owner must occupy the residence during the stay of the transient visitor.
An entire residential unit accommodation may rent his primary residence to transient for a minimum of seven consecutive days, not to exceed 30 days. Under this type of arrangement, the owner may, but is not required to, remain on the premises during the stay of the transient guests.
Standards for the transient home will also be set with the dwelling to remain as a single household residential living unit with common housekeeping, kitchen and laundry facilities.
The transient lodging facility should not also adversely affect the residential character of the neighborhood. Transient rental may not generate noise, vibration, glare, odor or other effects that unreasonably interfere with a person’s enjoyment of his or her neighborhood. Live animals shall be under the animal owner’s control at all times.
The owner will be responsible for the safety and welfare of all transient visitors and guests, preserving the peace of the community within which the transient lodging facility is found from noises or disruptions caused by any transient visitor or guest, and to maintain the property in accordance with all laws and city ordinances, and promptly report those persons violating the same to the responsible barangay officers for enforcement purposes.
The owner of the transient lodging facility is responsible for trash and recycling removal. There should be no fly or mosquito breeding places, rodent harborages, or undrained areas on the premises. Transient visitors must be notified of trash and recycling collection days. All garbage must be collected and stored in covered containers in such a manner as not to create an eyesore.
The transient lodging facility should comply with the anti-discrimination ordinance of the City of Baguio while public streets and rights-of-way should not be used for day time parking or overnight parking of vehicles by tenants and local emergency contact information must be posted within the rental unit in a prominent location so as to be easily visible and read by the visitors or guests.