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Re: How can I rent a timeshare? (by Marie M.):

adrianm20 wrote:

I have never rented my time share before and was interested in doing so. However, after reading some of these forums, I am a little concerned that this may not be the thing to do. It seems like it may be wrong, a little illegal in fact! Like I may be committing a crime with RCI or something! PLEASE HELP!

If you actually own a timeshare, you can use it yourself, or authorize guests to use it (e.g. friends, relatives, co-workers etc...). You also have the absolute right to rent it to anyone you wish, even a total stranger, so long as you have paid all the taxes, maintenance fees, and Special Assessments (if any) for which you are responsible, and so long as you have not deposited your week with RCI (the week you would like to rent, that is).

If you are a member of RCI, Interval International, or some other exchange company, you have the ability to deposit ("space bank") your week and request an exchange to another timeshare. This is totally optional. You have no obligation to avail yourself of this service.

BUT if you obtain a unit through EXCHANGE, the rules set by the exchange company prohibit you from renting out the exchanged week. You may allow a friend or relative to use it instead of yourself, but you must pay an extra fee (currently $59. with RCI) to obtain a "guest certificate" in the name of the person(s) who will be checking in. The exchange company rules also specify that you may not charge the guest more than the exchange fee you paid plus the cost of the guest certificate.

So long as you obey these rules, there is absolutely nothing illegal or unethical about it.

You may have become confused by various debates by owners who do not feel that an exchange company should have the right to prohibit them from renting out an exchanged week for whatever price they can get. But rules are rules.

It is well known that an owner could make a private deal with a trusted friend or relative that violates the above noted official policy. And there's probably no way the exchange company would find out about it so long as neither party disclosed it.

But to attempt to rent an EXCHANGED week to a stranger, especially through an ad placed on a public web site such as Redweek, would be fool-hardy. If RCI or a resort sees the ad and investigates, RCI will cancel the exchange, and can also suspend or cancel the RCI membership of the member who placed the ad. Or if the renter shows up to check in at the resort with an RCI guest certificate and mentions that he/she has rented the week from a private party, the resort can refuse to allow the guest to check in. The renter could then be sued for the cost of whatever alternate lodging the "guest" obtains. This has happened.

Please read all of the above information carefully. Do not have any qualms about renting a week you actually own, whether it is a fixed deeded week, or a floating week you have reserved through your resort. We own 15 weeks at different resorts and we have rented many of them through the years without any problems whatsoever. You have the absolute right to rent what you OWN. Whether you are an RCI member has nothing to do with what you do with the week(s) you own. It's only when you obtain a week though an EXCHANGE that RCI has any say in what you do with the week.

Good luck!