Navigating the Tightrope between Tourism and Housing on Nantucket: The Importance of Short-Term Rentals in Sustaining Local Economy

Dear Editor,

My name is Jonathan Miles and I have been a business owner on Nantucket since 1990 when I started my company at the age of 16. Over the years, I have gained insight into how our local economy functions, as well as the unique steps needed to maintain a good quality of life on the island. The connection between the quality of life and the challenges faced by businesses on Nantucket is closely tied to the use of short-term rentals.

As my business grew, I realized the importance of providing housing to ensure a reliable workforce that could return year after year. However, with many employees only spending four months on the island, finding year-round housing proved to be impractical. Short-term rentals became essential in meeting the housing needs of our 32 employees during the eight months when we were not using it ourselves.

While utilizing short-term rentals during the off-season has not resulted in significant financial gains, it has been crucial in sustaining our operations and preserving local employment. Banning short-term rentals would leave many properties vacant for the majority of the year, putting both our businesses and the Nantucket economy at risk.

It is important to recognize that tourism is a crucial part of our island’s economy, and eliminating short-term rentals would have negative consequences on local businesses and spending. In order to maintain our collective prosperity, it is essential to preserve the option of short-term rentals on Nantucket. The repercussions of not taking action on this issue are too significant to ignore. Thank you for considering my perspective on this matter.