Real Estate Agent Who Violated Santa Monica Homeshare Law Gets Increased Sentence

By Jorge Casuso

December 18, 2018 -- A local real estate agent who violated his diversion terms after being convicted of running an illegal vacation rental business in Santa Monica received an increased sentence last week, the City Attorney's office said Tuesday.

Shabi Jafri -- who unlawfully removed nine units from the city's rental housing market -- continued to engage in unlawful activities shortly after being sentenced in June to perform 140 hours of community service and pay the City $3,600.25 in investigation costs.

Last Wednesday, Superior Court Judge T.K. Herman ordered Jafri -- who had pleaded no contest to five misdemeanor counts -- to perform 112 hours of community labor.

He also ordered him to perform 140 hours of community service and pay restitution to the City in the amount of $3,915 in investigation costs, the City Attorney's office said.

Jafri was found to be in violation of his diversion terms by Santa Monica Code Enforcement Officers who monitor each probationer to ensure compliance, officials said.

In addition, he was ordered to comply with all laws, including the City’s Home-Sharing Ordinance’s prohibition against hosting, facilitating, aiding or advertising a vacation rental in the City.

The City Attorney's office filed the case early this year after code enforcement officers issued multiple administrative citations to Jafri, City officials said.

Jafri continued to operate the business without the necessary permits, violating Santa Monica's homesharing law, which requires that both the host and paying guest occupy the registered unit.

The local law does not allow such rentals for longer than 30 days. Un-hosted short-term rentals, known as "vacation rentals," remain illegal. ("Santa Monica City Council Bans Short-Term Rentals Despite Protests," May 14, 2015).

Approved by the City Council in 2015, Santa Monica's law -- which has withstood several court challenges -- also requires hosts to pay the City's hotel tax and register by applying for City approval.

For more information on the City’s Home-Sharing Ordinance or to apply for a Home-Sharing License, visit www.smgov.net/homeshare.

To report an illegal vacation rental business, contact Code Enforcement at (310) 458-4984