Letter: Illegal rentals drive up property taxes

Anyone else get their 2019 Real Property Notice of Assessment and go between laughing because it’s so ridiculously high, and crying because now you’ll have to pay a gigantic amount more in taxes?

They say my house is worth $200,000 more this year than last. I called to appeal, and explained that the reason my neighbors’ houses (without naming names) are selling for inflated amounts, is because they have extra rental spaces, unpermitted work and are running illegal vacation rentals. This is why the new owners paid more for them.

The city basically said that an appeal based on the neighbors participating in illegal activities would most likely be denied.

So, if you’re living in a house not participating in illegal activity, you’re going to be screwed and the taxation department is fine with that.

No wonder people just give up, move out of their North Shore homes, and illegally vacation-rent their home. There are no penalties, and the financial rewards are plenty.

Erica Lehmkuhl

Haleiwa

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