WPOA Survey of Property Owners 2022

Short-term Rentals Summary

The majority (60%) of surveyed Wintergreen owners would oppose changing the Covenants to prohibit short-term rental use on their property, including 44% who would strongly oppose such change. Support to prohibit short-term rental use is much higher among valley property owners (52% at least somewhat support it) and primary residents (52%) than among mountain property owners (21%; 53% strongly oppose the change) and non-primary residents (19%; 56% strongly oppose the change). It is also higher among those who did not vacation at Wintergreen before buying property (44% at last somewhat support it) than those who did (24%).

Also, only a quarter (27% ‘strongly support’ and ‘somewhat support’ combined) would support changing the Covenants to prohibit short-term rental use in Stoney Creek only. Again, support to prohibit short-term rental use in Stoney Creek only is much higher among valley property owners (52% at least somewhat support it) and primary residents (47%) than mountain property owners (15%) and non-primary residents (16%).

Majority (59% ‘strongly oppose’ and ‘somewhat oppose’ combined) of Wintergreen owners would oppose changing the Covenants to give WPOA legal authority to increase oversight, place limits on short-term rental use and establish additional rules for their individual property. The support for this measure is higher among valley property owners (41% at least somewhat support it), primary residents (42%), and those who do not rent their Wintergreen property (33%) than among mountain property owners (20%), non- primary residents (18%) and those who rent their property (3%; in this group 87% strongly oppose it).

Nearly half of respondents (46% ‘strongly agree’ and ‘somewhat agree’ combined) believe that the August Board Resolution placing new rules on short-term rental use along with WPOA’s recent efforts to educate owners and their guests, are adequate to address current needs of the community. Mountain and valley property owners, as well as primary and non-primary residents, gave very similar answers to this question.

* Zogby Analytics notes: Survey responses were not limited to only one per household. The survey allowed up to 2 responses per property/household, giving spouses an opportunity to provide individual comments on amenity use, improvements, etc. Approximately 13% of the responses collected were second responses. The household numbers represent the reduction of overall numbers by this 13% estimate.