Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon promised that pending legislation around short-term vacation rentals will not only give municipalities better tools for tracking and enforcement, but also get more housing back into the rental market.
Kahlon made these comments Wednesday (Aug. 16) during an event in Delta, where he announced 152 housing units for low-to-moderate income seniors. But Kahlon91裸聊视频檚 media availability after the announcement saw him field several questions about short-term rentals.
While short-term vacation rentals offered through platforms like AirBnB have become an accepted and increasingly licensed source of accommodation, municipalities are struggling with control over their use, and loss of housing. Short-term vacation rentals offer more profitable returns with fewer hassles than traditional rentals, worsening the housing situation.
91裸聊视频淢any communities highlight the lack of accessible data (around STVRs),91裸聊视频� Kahlon said. 91裸聊视频淢any communities, like Vancouver say 91裸聊视频榳e have a system,91裸聊视频� yet there are many illegal operations and it is hard for them to enforce the rules that they have. So those are things that we will be addressing.
91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 go too much into legislation, there are some final details that we are just finalizing, other than to say that it is vitally important.91裸聊视频�
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He added the legislation could immediately bring more housing into the market, 91裸聊视频渨ith the understanding that some of these types of short-term rentals are going to be here in the future because they have become important in (tourism-heavy) communities.91裸聊视频�
It is a question of balancing different interests and the legislation will find that balance, he said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a challenge, but we have to navigate that,91裸聊视频� Kahlon said. 91裸聊视频淲e have students living six, seven to one-bedroom suites right now,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have seniors displaced and nowhere to go and finding themselves after a life of work in shelters. So, it is a challenge, but we have to take this one on.91裸聊视频�
Questions around short-term vacation rentals have vexed communities and various sectors (such as the hospitality industry) for years and BC Green House Leader Adam Olsen Tuesday repeated calls for a provincial-wide registry of short-term vacation rentals as part of a tougher regulatory approach.
91裸聊视频淭hey (the provincial government) need to increase STVR platform accountability by ensuring only registered properties are listed, authorize regional districts to issue business licenses and provide resources for local governments to enforce existing bylaws,91裸聊视频� Olsen said.
When asked about the chance that the legislation will include such a registry, Kahlon said MLAs from all parties had previously advocated for solutions.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 great to hear that,91裸聊视频� Kahlon said. 91裸聊视频淚 look forward to hearing his suggestions. We are on the path to address the challenges that were highlighted to us (by) UBCM and having good data, having a system that is able to actually track how many of these units are actually online in our communities is an important part of that.91裸聊视频�
Kahlon added that he has not ruled out a province-wide registry of short-term vaction rentals.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 recalling saying no (to a province-wide registry),91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 did say there are some final pieces that we need to go through before the legislation can be introduced and will be introducing that this fall.91裸聊视频�
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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