By Darryl Greer
The provincewide registry goals to step up enforcement in opposition to operators that don’t adjust to short-term rental rules, Kahlon mentioned throughout a information convention on Monday.
“We imagine houses are for folks and never for hypothesis, and this registry will enable us to take the enforcement to the following step,” he mentioned.
Kahlon mentioned all short-term rental operators on platforms reminiscent of Airbnb and Vrbo should apply for a registration quantity to be displayed on all on-line listings by Might 1, and hosts who fail to conform can 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 many who dwell elsewhere, and $600 for so-called strata lodges.
He mentioned rents have come down within the province and extra long-term leases have turn into out there.
Issues about impacts on tourism as a consequence of a short-term rental crackdown had been overblown, the minister mentioned.
“Individuals nonetheless wish to go to B.C. Individuals nonetheless wish to dwell in B.C.,” he mentioned.
Kahlon mentioned that the province is giving a 50% low cost to operators who join 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 high of short-term rental guidelines set out by municipalities, together with assembly enterprise licence necessities.
Kahlon mentioned the province’s registry information will likely be shared with the finance ministry and native governments, to “elevate the extent of enforcement” in opposition to 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 high precedence” for town.
Zhou mentioned housing is without doubt one of the “most urgent points” dealing with communities as we speak, calling the registry a “step ahead in making certain that houses stay out there for individuals who dwell and work in our metropolis.”
He mentioned short-term leases supplied on platforms reminiscent of Airbnb and Vrbo fill a job in addressing resort room shortages, however he mentioned it was “equally necessary” to stability 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 out there for many who wish to name Vancouver dwelling.”
He mentioned the brand new provincial registry will assist goal “dangerous actors extra successfully.”
On the identical time, Zhou mentioned it encourages extra Vancouver householders to think about providing long-term leases, easing the stress 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