Vacation rental listings in Arizona are enticing customers with proposals to stay in luxury homes during the coronavirus pandemic, with some even offering discounts or free personal-protection masks with a booking.

"Coronavirus free! Quarantine here. Resort setting," one listing reads. Others suggest that potential renters "escape your quarantine" and one offers the enticement of "N95 masks included."

At least three other states have restricted rentals by companies like Airbnb and VRBO during the coronavirus pandemic, but not Arizona. One Scottsdale property even touts the fact that Arizona golf courses remain open.

The listings appear to violate new rules Airbnb and VRBO put in place on ads related to the pandemic after widespread vacation cancellations left many properties vacant.

People who live near the properties and those who have been pushing for more regulation of vacation rentals say the listings are irresponsible during a pandemic when most people in the U.S. are being asked to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel.

"YOU CAN STILL GOLF" declares one listing on Airbnb.

"Arizona golf courses are essential and still open!" the listing states. "Come quarantine with your friends or family in our clean and sanitized home. We have TP!"

The owner, Brad Williams, responded to an inquiry about the listing from The Arizona Republic, noting he has lost about $15,000 in bookings in March and April from cancellations. He said he hadn't gotten any response in the past few days since putting up the golf message.

"This also trickles down to the people that help us run it," he said. "Our cleaner was clearing $175 each booking, and there is now no need for a pool guy to come and make sure the backyard is ready for relaxing."

Vacation rentals have generated fierce debates at the state Capitol as residents around Arizona complain that they disrupt neighborhood tranquility and displace permanent residents. But the coronavirus pandemic has set off a new concern that vacationers will spread the illness even as the greater economy shuts down to contain the virus.

"Do people literally have to die before the governor realizes what a bad idea unregulated rentals are?" asked Paradise Valley resident Bill Hunter, who lives next door to a rental property that was advertised as a place to "self quarantine" until changing the wording recently.

"I don't know if Airbnb is trying to clean up the PR disaster those ads would create or what."

Airbnb sent a message to its hosts stating that they should not try to capitalize on the pandemic.

"We will not allow listing titles that could be interpreted as exploiting the pandemic, such as marketing around escaping COVID-19," the company said. "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."

Airbnb said it was prohibiting listing titles that contain the words “COVID,” “coronavirus,” or “quarantine."

Listings on Airbnb viewed by The Arizona Republic on Friday seemed to avoid those words, but included other references to the pandemic such as "N95 masks included" and "self isolate."

"If you're anything like us, I'm guessing you're going a little stir crazy cooped up in your home," one Scottsdale listing reads. "Since spring training is cancelled, and tourist activity has all but ceased, we're offering ModOasis, one of Scottsdale's most popular vacation rentals for up to a 60-day lease so you and your loved ones can enjoy a change of scenery and sip your quarantinis poolside."

VRBO meanwhile has already told property owners not to downplay the risks of the virus.

Three other states stop rentals

Governors in other states have clamped down on vacation rentals during the pandemic.

But short-term rentals have enjoyed protection in Arizona since 2016 when lawmakers prevented cities, towns and counties from banning them, which prevents local restrictions on renting them during the pandemic.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday expanded the list of businesses that need to close during the pandemic, including hair salons and tattoo parlors, but the Republican leader has not addressed vacation rentals. Golf courses also are allowed to remain open.

Ducey's office did not immediately respond to a question about vacation rentals Friday afternoon after making the announcement additional business closures.

Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf this week removed vacation rentals from the list of essential businesses that can operate during the pandemic after lawmakers complained of similar rental advertisements in that state. Some offered people an escape from the virus in the Poconos.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, aRepublican, signed an order Friday banning vacation rentals to vacationers until at least April 10.

And Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said both short-term rentals and hotels should not be booked in his state for vacations during the pandemic.

The rental properties that many people have bought as an investment or side-business have been plagued by widespread cancellations, but that's no reason to invite people to travel and potentially spread the virus, said lawyer and Realtor Greg Hague, who has pushed Arizona lawmakers to allow restrictions on vacation rentals.

"Many of them 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 said.

"I don’t wish the people who bought these rentals any pain, they don't deserve that," he said. "However, I don’t think they should be pushing to get people in here."

He said property owners can get relief on their mortgages and avoid foreclosure thanks to government actions to minimize fallout from the widespread orders to stay at home.

"I'm not a stay-at-home kind of guy," he said. "But this is a time we should all be responsible. And (listing rentals during the pandemic) is not."

Arizona Rep. Aaron Lieberman, D-Paradise Valley, said vacation rentals could serve an important purpose during the pandemic by providing housing for traveling medical professionals needed to assist with the crisis. But he opposes using them for leisure.

"This is a good example as to why we need to go back to letting the cities and towns deal with (rentals)," Lieberman said. "I don’t think there is a city or town now saying, we would love to host you during this global pandemic."

Data shows rural rentals increasing

The concern over rentals comes as data shows travelers heading to low-density, rural areas during the pandemic, even as overall travel has all but ceased, according to data from Denver-based research firm AirDNA.

"We’ve noted a pretty stark inverse relationship between population density and the health of its short-term rental market," AirDNA said in a recent report. "The more crowded the city, the worse its vacation rental market."

Meanwhile, bookings are increasing in rural areas, according to the company. About 73% of March Airbnb revenue was made outside of large urban centers, AirDNA estimates.

While Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are part of the larger metro Phoenix area, Arizona also has listings for rentals to escape the pandemic in places like Munds Park, outside Flagstaff.

"Breathe and social distance in Munds Park," one listing on Airbnb read Friday.

Some rural Arizona residents, including the Sedona mayor, have voiced concern over people visiting during the pandemic because it could increase strain on small health facilities.

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.

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