Vacation rentals in buildings that authorize short term rentals with restrictions

The majority of condominium complexes and aparthotels in Miami that allow owners to engage in short-term rental agreements place some types of restrictions to preserve the peace and pleasantness of the accommodations. Usually, condominium associations in Miami impose a one-month minimum stay for all short-term rental guests. Another common rule is to limit owners to renting their properties a maximum of 12 times per year.

Sometimes unscrupulous owners try to bend the rules of these complexes and aparthotels in Miami. Owners who need help making the mortgage payments on their properties are often anxious to fill their units and homes as often as possible with guests looking for cheap Miami vacation rentals. To get around the rules, owners lie to their condo associations, identifying their paying guests as friends and family members.

While staying in the homes of these owners may equate to cheap Miami vacation rentals, there are major risks involved with choosing these types of accommodations. If the condominium association discovers that the owner is not following their short-term rental rules during your stay, you could be subjected to embarrassing questioning. Worse, the condo association might have you removed from the home or unit, and you would have to find new accommodations in the Miami area on short notice. Condo associations do not issue refunds in these situations; you will have to fight with the owner to get your back your money.

If you make a down payment for a condominium owned by an unscrupulous owner who is trying to dodge their condo association's rules, you run the risk of losing your initial investment. Should the condo association confirm that the owner is breaking the rules before you arrive, the owner may have to break your agreement. In some cases, the owner may have already spent your down payment and have difficult refunding your money.

To protect yourself, your wallet and your vacation, always read both your rental contract and the condo association's rules carefully. If you plan to stay in a building that requires a one-month minimum stay, your contract must state that you are renting the property for one month. Of course, the owner may allow you to leave early and adjust your rate accordingly (such as by dividing it in half for a two-week trip) but in these cases, the contract must still read one month to be within the condo association's rules.