Boston AirBnb host turns short-term rental units into hotel amid law changes

BOSTON — You could call him a pioneer in the impending evolution of Boston's short-term rental market.

Brent Berc owns a nine-unit property since 2013 right in the heart of the city. Until now, he's been renting the units through AirBnb and other services, but a new city law pushed him to make a change.

"It wasn't easy," said Berc. "It's a hot button issue right now. As someone who has been in business I understand ordinance, there will be some who have trouble interpreting it."

Berc was preemptive and saw his window of opportunity closing at the start of 2019 when a new ordinance would've thrown a curve ball in his short-term rental business by preventing him from renting out units for 28 days or less.

"The people we serve they rely on having this option that's not a hotel that has more facilities than a hotel," said Berc.

Through getting approval through the Zoning Board of Appeals to call it a hotel, Berc will be able to continue renting out units as he has been for the past five years. He says the location draws a high volume of short term guests because of its close proximity to Mass General Hospital.

"We just want to be able to cater to the people who aren’t here for 28 days, the people who are having surgery for 12 days and are visiting their granddaughter for 4 days," said Berc.

The hotel is now called the Charles Street Inn, reminiscent of the time when Berc bought the property originally as a hotel and then converted it into extended stay apartments.

Back in June, however, the city council voted to bring an end to those types of operations in Boston. It remains unclear as to how exactly the city will enforce those new regulations and if other investors will be able to clear the same hurdles in time.

"There’s going to be a lot of short term rentals leaving the market and the ones that remain legally will be serving the same amount of demand but fewer units on the market," said Berc.

Even though the proposal to convert this building into a hotel. was supported by the mayor’s office, Berc says it took more than four months to get the green light.

After finally getting the approval, Berc isn't planning any major changes to the outside or inside of the building.

>> MORE: Boston cracks down on investor-owned short term rentals

Cox Media Group