The Origin of the Right to Rent Collaborative

Over the past decade, short-term rentals transformed the way people travel, invest in property, and participate in the hospitality economy. What began as a small, peer-to-peer movement rapidly expanded into a nationwide industry supporting millions of guests, hundreds of thousands of homeowners, and thousands of local businesses.

But while the industry grew quickly, its ability to represent itself in local policymaking did not.

Across the country, regulations governing short-term rentals began emerging city by city, county by county, and state by state. In many places, policies were written before hosts or property managers had organized representation. Decisions affecting entire markets were often made without the voices of the people most directly impacted.

A pattern became clear: when a strong local association existed early, policymakers heard balanced perspectives and better outcomes followed. When no organized representation existed, policy discussions often moved forward without industry input, sometimes resulting in restrictive or poorly designed rules.

The challenge was not a lack of commitment from hosts, property managers, or industry partners. The challenge was scale. Building effective local advocacy organizations requires resources, leadership, and time. Many markets simply did not have the funding or infrastructure to organize before regulatory debates began.

Recognizing this gap, industry leaders began searching for a way to support consistent, sustainable representation everywhere short-term rentals operate.

In 2020, Scott Leggat and Inhabit launched the original Right to Rent program within the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). The idea was simple but powerful: property managers could voluntarily contribute a small amount per reservation through their property management software. By spreading contributions across thousands of bookings, the industry could create a stable pool of funds dedicated to advocacy.

The concept proved that the industry was willing to invest in its future.

But it also revealed a much larger opportunity.

By 2024, it became clear that local associations needed reliable funding, professional support, and coordination long before regulatory crises emerged. To meet that need, the Right to Rent Collaborative (R2RC) was established as an independent nonprofit organization.

R2RC was designed to serve as the national infrastructure supporting local and state short-term rental associations. Rather than lobbying or taking policy positions itself, the Collaborative focuses on strengthening the organizations that represent hosts and property managers where decisions actually happen: in city halls, county commissions, and state legislatures across the country.

Through grants, governance support, and industry-backed funding programs like the Right to Rent Program, R2RC helps associations build the leadership, legal readiness, and advocacy capacity necessary to engage constructively with policymakers.

The mission reflects a simple belief: sustainable policy outcomes require informed conversations that include the voices of the people who live, work, and operate in each community.

Today, the need for representation remains urgent. Regulations continue to evolve in markets large and small. Without organized advocacy, local stakeholders risk being left out of decisions that shape their livelihoods.

The Right to Rent Collaborative exists to ensure that does not happen.

By building a national network of capable local associations, supported by industry-wide participation, R2RC is working to ensure that every market has the capacity to engage early, represent its community, and participate meaningfully in the policymaking process.

Because the future of short-term rentals will not be decided in one place.

It will be decided market by market, community by community.

And every community deserves a voice.

The Founding Board

Our Founding Members

These incredible partners are forever etched into our history for taking the first leap of faith that made this organization possible 💛