Group sees flaws in city Airbnb plan
Coalition of tenant advocates, hotel union and activists say too many units will go undetected
The City of Vancouver is working on regulations aimed at curbing short-term rentals, which have exploded in recent years on platforms like Airbnb and Expedia.
As the contentious issue heads to a public hearing this fall, a report released Tuesday by the Fairbnb coalition says the city’s proposed measures lack teeth and are doomed to fail.
Here are five things to consider.
The proposed new rules
In July, the city released proposed regulations which allow homeowners or renters to rent out part or all of their principal homes. Short-term rentals are prohibited for secondary homes, secondary suites and laneway homes.
Hosts are required to get a $49 annual licence and a one-time $54 activation fee.
Platforms like Airbnb are expected to charge a transaction fee of up to three per cent to be remitted to the city.
Enforcement would be complaints-driven. The city estimates a 25 to 40 per cent compliance rate.
The objections
Fairbnb — a coalition of groups, including the union representing hotel workers, tenant-advocacy groups, and activists — argue the city is setting itself up for failure by policing hosts while letting the platforms like Airnbn off the hook.
It wants the city to hold shortterm rental platforms accountable for illegal listings. Without platform accountability measures, it says Airbnb will continue to impact Vancouver’s tight rental housing market.
How to do it
Fairbnb said three steps are needed: Government should develop rules and regulation around shortterm rental activity; a permit system for properties for short-term rental use; and platforms would have to be licensed.
The licence agreement must include “terms and conditions that legally bind platforms to only advertise properties with a valid, city-issued permit number,” says the report.
What the city says
Vancouver would like to see Airbnb and other platforms take responsibility for the registration of hosts, said Kathryn Holm, Vancouver’s chief licence inspector. “But ultimately it’s on the host to obtain a business license and to conduct short-term rentals in accordance with our bylaws.”
The city is interested in San Francisco’s example where the law requires Airbnb to ensure hosts have a valid business licence and hopes it can be implemented in Vancouver. But “at this point, we’re still trying to determine how best to do that,” said Holm, noting the city faces a challenge holding a business legally accountable when it is not based in Vancouver.
What Airbnb says
“From the start we have worked closely with the city, including sharing data and removing listings that did not meet the standards and priorities of our community,” said Airbnb spokeswoman Lindsey Scully in a statement.
“So let us be clear: Airbnb wants to be regulated, and we have always advocated for fair, sensible home-sharing regulations.”
Airbnb has argued it helps Vancouverites rent out their homes to help pay their rent or mortgage. It said more than 80 per cent of its 5,100 hosts in Vancouver share their primary home a few times a month to help make ends meet.