Getting handle on short-term rentals like Airbnb key to easing housing shortage in B.C.
The organization representing local governments in B.C. wants the provincial government to put in rules for short-term rentals similar to those it imposed on ride hailing services.
“The ever-expanding online accommodation bookings industry has reduced long-term rental housing capacity at a time when housing availability and costs are already under pressure,” states a news release from the Union of B.C. Municipalities issued today, Nov. 3. “At the same time, a property’s earning potential from short-term rental use leads to higher prices in the market than local incomes can support.”
At the province’s request, an advisory group was created in the fall of 2019 to see what rules local governments wanted the province to create for the Airbnb-type rental market.
First up, the news release says, there is a need to create a regulatory framework that will require online booking agencies to make their data available to local governments through a provincial portal.
That would include property listings, hosts, bookings and complaints.
In addition, the advisory group wants the booking agencies to publish business license or permit information with local governments directly on the portal.
It also wants legislation to make sure that provincial and local taxes are collected for each booking.
It also wants the Municipal and Regional District Tax rules changed so the tax is consistent throughout the province and money generated through the tax should be used more to offset the impacts of short term rentals on housing and neighbourhoods.
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Many local governments don't have the resources to properly police the industry, the release says.
“Local governments recognize the need to protect the stock of long-term rental homes in B.C.’s communities,” Union of B.C. Municipalities president Laurey-Anne Roodenburg said in the news release. “The report of the Advisory Group provides the province with priorities and ideas to address the range of local government concerns with the current weaknesses in short-term rental regulation.”
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