Welcome to the FVRMA Blog – a new tool to keep communication current in the Association!

Please be sure to check this site often to gain the latest information on FVRMA activities and issues facing the vacation rental housing industry.

The 2010 Florida Legislature is now in Session. This year, FVRMA is fighting for you.   An effort has been made to have all new home construction contain a home sprinkler system, supported by the International Building Codes as a fire safety precaution.    While we are sure our efforts, combined with the Florida Association of Home Builders’ and other groups would stop this effort this year, we are ensuring that the definition of Resort Dwelling as a Single Family home is upheld and that single family homes utilized as vacation family home would NOT be required to retrofit with the costly sprinkler systems – $10,000 – $30,000.      FVRMA has hired legal counsel to assist us in the court battles as well as legislative counsel to assist us in Tallahassee.

So far so good….but the Session is not over until the first of May. The initiative this year is fightable and we are working to ensure that no last-minute amendment in the waning hours of the 2010 Session is not added which would have a negative impact on the industry, without any proven fire safety enhancement.    But, the fight has really just begun…

The hospitality industry knows that we are now competition and would love to reclassify single family dwellings as commercial establishments forcing owners to meet the same code and requirements as huge hotels.   We are completely different entities and need to ensure that the legislators are aware of this difference.    If not, we will be subject to continued battles, continued possible “amendments” that could hurt Americans from having safe, but affordable, vacations in vacation homes.

In this effort we circulated a memo to our membership explaining this issue and asking for a special assistance donation of $5,000 for members and non-members with over 100 units and $2,000 from members and non-members with 100 or less units.     These monies are being placed in a separate account from the normal FVRMA operating funds and will be used ONLY for these legal and legislative battles starting in 2010.    Thank you for your assistance in this important matter.     One of our vendors, realizing the importance of this matter has pledged to match each $25,000.00 collected with a separate $25,000 donation.     This is big and of huge assistance!  Please be sure that you make your contribution so that we can obtain the 100% match for each $25,000 raised.

These issues will be prime discussion at the FVRMA 2010 Annual Meeting which will be April 25 – 27, 2010 at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando. If you haven’t already registered, you are missing a great opportunity to hear about our Tallahassee fights along with a high caliber educational program, networking opportunities and Disney!    What a great combination.  See you at the end of the Month.  For  further registration information click here:    FVRMA 2010 Annual Convention & Tradeshow

Finally, your news is our news.   Let us hear from you and we will put it in the FVRMA blog and spread the word!