Sidney relaxing the rules on short-term home rentals

VICTORIA The town of Sidney is making short-term rentals in homes legal, but only if the property owner or a tenant lives in the home full-time.

Such rentals, allowed to a maximum of 31 days, also will be permitted while the full-time resident is on vacation.

Mayor Steve Price said the main goal of the bylaw amendment is to preserve long-term rental housing stock. “With a nearly zero-per-cent vacancy rate, every available unit counts toward offering long-term rental housing.”

Because of the low vacancy rate, existing unauthorized short-term rentals likely were affecting the availability of longterm rental units, the town said in a statement.

Individual strata councils will have the final say on whether short-term rentals are allowed in townhouses or condominium buildings, the town said.

Coun. Peter Wainwright, speaking in favour of the new rules, told council he has heard from homeowners who are in tight financial straits when it comes to paying the mortgage and risk losing their home without revenue from short-term rentals.

Wainwright said the town also has heard from people who say their short-term rentals have attracted people to the community, leading to economic benefits.

It’s an issue municipalities throughout the Victoria area have had to grapple with, thanks to the surge in popularity of online booking sites, such as Airbnb.

Hotels concerned about the new rules have urged stronger regulation, including a requirement that owners of short-term rentals pay commercial tax rates and have a business licence, Wainwright said, adding the business licence is a separate issue and should be left for the incoming council to deal with.

Short-term rentals were previously allowed only in hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts, but have been growing steadily in the community. Under the new rules, only one short-term rental is permitted per property and no more than two bedrooms can be rented. No cooking facilities are permitted inside a bedroom of a short-term rental. The property must be occupied continuously by an owner or a tenant.

New rules cover most of Sidney’s residential areas. Existing short-term rentals outside a permitted area are not allowed to continue operating.