While some states have restricted vacation rental companies, in Arizona, owners of these companies are encouraging customers to stay in luxury homes, some of which may include complimentary face protection masks.
Vacation rental companies in Arizona are offering discounts and free face masks when customers make a reservation, according to AZ Central. And since vacation rentals in the state are also protected from being banned due to state legislation passed in 2016, there is only so much Arizona can do to restrict companies like Airbnb and VRBO.
"Coronavirus free! Quarantine here. Resort setting," one vacation rental listing said.
According to AZ Central, other companies are advertising their rentals with listings that read: "N95 masks included," "Escape your quarantine," and "Come quarantine with you friends or family in our clean and sanitized home. We have TP!"
But some vacation rental companies are choosing to place restrictions on their companies in Arizona. Airbnb and VRBO have created new rules for ads that won't allow vacation rental owners to exploit the pandemic.
"We will not allow listing titles that could be interpreted as exploiting the pandemic, such as marketing around escaping COVID-19," Airbnb said in a statement. "Additionally, we do not feel it’s appropriate to market COVID-19 related discounts or promote a listing as being well stocked on limited resources such as hand sanitizer or toilet paper."
And VRBO has told owners not to post ads that downplay the seriousness of the pandemic.
Realtor and lawyer Greg Hague said Arizona lawmakers should allow restriction on vacation rentals during the coronavirus pandemic, because individuals who travel could be spreading the virus.
"Many of (vacation rental owners) were looking at that cash flow and realized they probably now are going to miss the entire (busy winter travel) season because we will be in summer before this hopefully loosens up a bit," Hague told AZ Central. "I don’t wish the people who bought these rentals any pain, they don't deserve that. However, I don’t think they should be pushing to get people in here."
Since owners of the properties can receive government relief during the pandemic, Hague said it will help them pay mortgages and allow their rentals to temporarily close.
"I'm not a stay-at-home kind of guy," he told AZ Central. "But this is a time we should all be responsible. And (listing rentals during the pandemic) is not."
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