Think advocacy is only for experts, lobbyists, or those with extra time? Think again.
From Lisbon to Missouri to London, short-term rental operators are stepping up, and securing real wins. In a time of rising restrictions, tax hikes, and outright bans, even small actions are making a big difference.
That’s why we brought together three professionals who’ve fought back against regulation in their markets, and won. This article recaps the highlights from that webinar and distills them into practical insights for property managers everywhere.
The webinar featured three professionals who know what it’s like to face real threats—and real decision-makers:
- 🇵🇹 Filipa Leitão de Aguiar, Founder of Rent4Rest and Vice President of ALEP, who helped mobilize Portugal’s STR sector during one of the harshest crackdowns in Europe.
- 🇺🇸 Tyann Marcink, President of MOVHA and owner of Missouri Haus & Branson Family Retreats, who is leading a state-level push to stop quiet bans via reclassification.
- 🇬🇧 Merilee Karr, CEO of UnderTheDoormat and Co-founder of STAA, who helped build trust with UK policymakers during the pandemic and shaped the industry’s proactive path forward.
Portugal – Fighting Back and Building Relationships
Filipa Leitão de Aguiar shared how Portugal’s short-term rental sector faced a brutal 2023: national laws restricting new registrations, revoking licenses, and pushing STRs to the margins.
What worked:
- Creating ALEP’s Legal and Economic Task Force: To respond effectively to a wave of restrictive legislation, ALEP (the Portuguese Local Accommodation Association) assembled a specialized task force. This group combined legal, economic, and communications expertise to prepare robust, data-backed responses to government proposals. From calculating the financial impact of the new laws to identifying legal inconsistencies, the task force gave ALEP the credibility and precision needed to push back strategically, not emotionally.
- Launching the “SOS Alojamento Local” Platform: Recognizing the need to unify voices and inform the public, ALEP built a digital platform called “SOS Alojamento Local.” This hub became the go-to resource for short-term rental hosts and allies. It offered clear explanations of proposed laws, timelines, downloadable materials for advocacy, templates for reaching out to local officials, and tools for organizing community action. It was also a space for hosts to share their stories and for the media to understand what was at stake.
- Reframing the Narrative: STRs Are Part of the Community: One of ALEP’s biggest wins wasn’t just legal, it was emotional. The organization reframed the STR debate by shifting the focus from “rentals” to “communities.” Their messaging reminded the public that local accommodation supports tourism jobs, preserves family income, and brings vibrancy to neighborhoods.
- Telling Real Stories, Not Just Statistics: ALEP elevated the voices of real hosts. From retired couples renting out annexes to single parents depending on extra income, these personal stories helped humanize the issue and highlight the unintended consequences of blanket restrictions. Policymakers could no longer ignore the impact on everyday citizens.
What Property Managers Can Do
- Collect and share real stories – Your personal experience as a host or manager is valuable. Share it with others in your community and with policymakers. These stories humanize the industry and can influence how regulations are written or revised.
- Get involved at any level – You don’t have to lead an advocacy group to make a difference. Support or join local associations that are already working on behalf of STR operators. Even becoming a member adds strength in numbers.
- Remember, no law is final – Just because a regulation has passed doesn’t mean it’s permanent. The key is showing up and staying involved, even after decisions are made.
Missouri: When “Reclassification” Is a Quiet Ban
Tyann Marcink explained how Missouri counties started reclassifying STRs as commercial properties, raising taxes by 2–4x overnight. For her, one property went from $4,000 to $10,000/year.
“This wasn’t a tax. It was a shutdown. And we lost hundreds of listings.” Said Tyaan
What worked:
- Founding MOVHA (Missouri Vacation Home Alliance): Tyann Marcink and her team created a formal, nonprofit state-level alliance that became a trusted point of contact for city councils and state legislators.
- Filing a bipartisan state bill: MOVHA helped draft and champion legislation to clarify property tax classifications for STRs. The bill passed the Missouri House and received unanimous support in the Senate Committee. While it didn’t reach the floor before the session ended, the progress demonstrated growing support and set the stage for a renewed push in 2026.
- Partnering with the city to train new hosts: With Kansas City hosting part of the FIFA World Cup, Tyann is building a “World Cup Hosting 101” crash course in collaboration with city officials and local associations. It’s a proactive way to engage the community, support responsible hosting, and position STRs as part of the city’s tourism solution, not a problem.
What Property Managers Can Do
- Start or support a state-level alliance – Organizing at the state level gives property managers a stronger voice. A formal group makes it easier for policymakers to know who to talk to and helps ensure hosts are included in the conversation.
- You don’t need to be loud to be effective – Advocacy doesn’t mean public speaking or protests. As Tyann Marcink put it: “Just showing up and asking questions at a city meeting makes a huge difference.”
- Lead with education, not confrontation – Many regulators don’t fully understand how short-term rentals operate. In Missouri, hosts found that local tax offices didn’t even know what “STR” meant. When you focus on calmly explaining the basics of how STRs contribute to the economy, tourism, and housing, you lay the groundwork for smarter, more informed policymaking.
UK: Using the Pandemic as a Platform
Merilee Karr gave a masterclass on how a crisis can build trust with local and national governments.
What Worked in the UK
- Turning crisis into credibility: During the COVID-19 pandemic, operators rallied to provide accommodation for frontline healthcare workers. This showed that STRs weren’t just about tourism, they were essential, responsive parts of the community.
- Standardizing operations across the industry: Led by Merilee Karr and others, the UK STR community developed shared cleaning protocols, safety checklists, and transparent guest communication templates.
- Engaging with, not resisting, policy development: Rather than rejecting government proposals, the industry participated in official consultations to help shape the UK’s upcoming national registration scheme.
What Property Managers Can Do
- Join or support a trade association: Whether it’s national, regional, or city-based, being part of an association gives your voice more weight. Even if you’re not leading the charge, your membership helps show that the STR industry is coordinated, professional, and serious about being heard.
- Share data to support the case for STRs: Numbers matter in policy debates. Associations and advocacy groups need real operational data, like occupancy rates, average guest spend, or employee counts, to prove the STR industry’s economic value.
- Build relationships before a crisis hits: Don’t wait until a regulation is proposed to start showing up. Attend local council meetings, meet other operators, and engage with policymakers early.
You Don’t Need to Be an Expert—Just Involved
If there’s one thing the webinar made clear, it’s this:
Advocacy isn’t all or nothing. Everyone has a role to play.
Small actions—joining an association, attending one city meeting, or sharing your experience—can add up to real change.
Many of our speakers echoed this: “If you don’t have time now, you might have all the time in the world later—because your STR business will be gone.”
