Fire at popular rental property spotlights concerns about vacation rentals
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – As the season brings thousands of vacationers looking to book their dream getaway in the Coachella Valley, disasters are highlighting concerns these renters and property owners often have.
From the renters' side: what happens to their deposits and bookings if a home suddenly becomes unavailable? And for property owners: there's always a concern about losing their property to a disaster.
It comes after the Desert Ridge Estate, a popular luxury vacation rental in Indio, burned last Friday.
One of the tenants staying at the home told News Channel 3 there were 16 people who were renting the property and were displaced in the aftermath.
Property managers said on Friday the property was a total loss.
Online booking records show the property had been reserved several months in advance for big events and festivals like Coachella.
"That's definitely a risk that we have to be concerned about in our homes," said Chris Casas, the owner and founder of Indian Springs Real Estate, based in Indio. He and his company operates and manages 12 to 15 vacation rental properties in the Coachella Valley.
"Could be flood damage, could be water damage, it could be fire damage. And in those situations, yeah, renters sometimes are displaced."
One of the big questions property owners have to find the answer to: how the damage was caused.
"When we do receive a phone call of a concern or a problem, we need to visit the home, address it and try and assess is it something that happened out of chance or if it's something that was caused by them and then address it with them."
More challenges emerge in the aftermath of these property losses, too. Renters can often find it difficult to find alternate accommodations. Casas, however, reassured renters that if a landlord isn't able to deliver on what they promised, your money should be safe.
"Typically whenever a homeowner or property owner cancels a lease, all funds go back [to the renter]. They were not able to provide the service that was contracted," he explained.
Casas also said some property owners and brokerages could have portfolios of other rental properties that they could transition their tenants to if they are displaced. For properties booked through large companies like Airbnb and Vrbo, he said they could step in to assist, too.
He also made it clear that different property managers and homeowners could have varying policies and practices when it comes to handling disasters. But the key: book through reputable companies and brokerages to give yourself the best peace of mind if disaster strikes.
"Whenever you're working with a larger company or service like myself, you're going to have a lot more resources behind you and a lot more help to make sure you have a good experience," Casas affirmed.
News Channel 3 reached out to the owners of Desert Ridge Estate, but did not receive comment. Stay with us for any updates to this story as we continue to follow what's next for the property and for the people who had already booked their stays.
