Hello! Hoping someone can recommend a service where I can rent a house in Key West for 4 nights. Looking for a home of about 3 - 4 bedrooms!

Thanks! 8-)

vrbo.com

Compass Realty or At Home Key West could help you out too. Google them.

You may have a problem finding a house to rent for less than 7 nights, which is the normal minimum stay. If you book directly from an owner, you need to be guaranteed that they have a transient license, too.

Susan, what is a transient license?

I second rm-mn. I have used both Compass Realty and At Home in Key West and both were great experiences, nice houses, no hidden surprises etc. However, it will be hard to find a house to rent for only 4 nights. Most have a week minimum (7 nights) and some have a month (30 day) minimum.

There are restrictions on how you can rent a home on Key West as there are in many cities. The owner must have the proper license for using a home as a rental unit. Short term rentals are more closely regulated and the owner must have a "transient license" because hit enters are not regular residents but are transient, there for only a short time. If the owner does not have a transient license or rents to you for a shorter time than his license allows, you can be required to leave and the owner will pay a fine. You really don't want to be kicked out after you arrive and be forced to find lodging in a city that often sells out.

Thanks rm_mn. Is all of Florida like that or is it a city to city regulation? As a renter, do you ask if they have this license or are they required to publish it?

cd - This is a city matter (perhaps county) and has been very controversial in Key West for years. In Truman Annex there have been several lawsuits by owners who bought property strictly to rent out (and didn't have licenses that can cost up to $60,000) and by owners who bought property as primary residences who've complained about unruly behaviors of renters nearby.

I've heard of people who've been ejected from rentals when they've been rowdy and the owners didn't have the appropriate transient licences.

In other words, in order to protect yourself, you need to be assured that the license is in place. The best way to do that is to rent through a good agency. There are lots of good ones, including some that only deal with Truman Annex, but At Home in Key West is another with a very good reputation.

Thanks Susan.