By Darryl Greer
The provincewide registry goals to step up enforcement towards operators that don’t adjust to short-term rental laws, Kahlon mentioned throughout a information convention on Monday.
“We imagine properties are for folks and never for hypothesis, and this registry will permit us to take the enforcement to the following step,” he mentioned.
Kahlon mentioned all short-term rental operators on platforms akin to Airbnb and Vrbo should apply for a registration quantity to be displayed on all on-line listings by Could 1, and hosts who fail to conform could have their listings taken down beginning June 1.
There may also be annual registration charges, starting from $100 for hosts who dwell on the property, $450 for individuals who dwell elsewhere, and $600 for so-called strata accommodations.
He mentioned rents have come down within the province and extra long-term leases have turn out to be obtainable.
Considerations about impacts on tourism as a result of a short-term rental crackdown had been overblown, the minister mentioned.
“Folks nonetheless wish to go to B.C. Folks nonetheless wish to dwell in B.C.,” he mentioned.
Kahlon mentioned that the province is giving a 50% low cost to operators who enroll by Feb. 28, and a 25% low cost in the event that they register by March 31.
The ministry mentioned the provincial registry comes on prime of short-term rental guidelines set out by municipalities, together with assembly enterprise licence necessities.
Kahlon mentioned the province’s registry information shall be shared with the finance ministry and native governments, to “increase the extent of enforcement” towards homeowners who break guidelines on short-term leases.
Vancouver Metropolis Coun. Lenny Zhou advised the information convention the registry is a “welcome step” as “housing affordability continues to be a prime precedence” for town.
Zhou mentioned housing is among the “most urgent points” dealing with communities right this moment, calling the registry a “step ahead in making certain that properties stay obtainable for individuals who dwell and work in our metropolis.”
He mentioned short-term leases provided on platforms akin to Airbnb and Vrbo fill a task in addressing resort room shortages, however he mentioned it was “equally essential” to steadiness these wants with residential housing.
“For too lengthy, we’ve struggled to handle the challenges posed by non-compliant operators within the short-term rental market,” Zhou mentioned. “This (has) made it tough to make sure that housing stays obtainable for individuals who wish to name Vancouver house.”
He mentioned the brand new provincial registry will assist goal “unhealthy actors extra successfully.”
On the similar time, Zhou mentioned it encourages extra Vancouver owners to think about providing long-term leases, easing the strain on our housing market.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 20, 2025.
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Final modified: January 20, 2025