Jojo’s Blue House is a five-bedroom craftsman that can be booked for $608 a night. But like many others in Portland, this short-term vacation rental is un-permitted.
Courtesy Dave Killen / The Oregonian
The housing and homelessness crisis in Portland was a key reason city officials pledged in 2019 to crack down on unpermitted short-term rentals on Airbnb. Four years later, an investigation into the city’s regulatory efforts finds a near complete breakdown. Those who should be enforcing regulations say they are understaffed, can’t get access to the data they need and don’t have access to the technology to get the job done. Meanwhile, safety inspections of properties are rarely done. The Oregonian’s Ted Sickinger shares with us his reporting and what the city is likely to do next.
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