Very few Kawartha short-term rentals are licensed
Operators had until January to apply for licensing after years of neighbour complaints
Kawartha Lakes staff have visited a number of locations where owners “outright refuse to apply”
Kawartha Lakes short-term rental bylaw staff are poised to issue demerits for anyone who has not applied for a licence to operate.
Operators of short-term rentals, including homes and property, had until January to apply for a licence under the Kawartha Lakes’ bylaw passed by council last year.
The creation of a short-term rental licensing bylaw was initiated following years of concerns raised by residents, particularly waterfront property owners. Key complaints included high noise levels, partying, excessive littering and vandalism.
A task force was formed in the spring of 2022 to review the matter and present a solution to council. It quickly became a contentious issue, dividing the municipality.
Results from a survey conducted in late 2022 showed 68 per cent of participants supported short-term rentals while 74 per cent felt they should be regulated and licensed.
A bylaw was approved by council last June. A complaints hotline was also launched last fall. Short-term rental operators had until January to license properties.
Via a verbal Committee of the Whole report to council on Tuesday, municipal law enforcement and licensing manager Aaron Sloan noted 100 short-term rental licensing applications have been approved with roughly 300 more “in process.”
While councillors were pleased to see licensing uptake, the number represents only half of the 800 verified addresses. An estimated 1,200 locations have been identified, however, Sloan points out some of these are duplicates on various markets which are very fluid.
He explained while there were 14 new short-term rentals listed over a seven-day span recently, it’s not the norm. Most listings are seasonal and/or taken down when in use by the owner.
The municipality has been working with GovService host
compliance company Granicus since 2022.
The company canvases about 60 different rental sites and has been compiling a variety of data that staff have been using to filter and identify properties, including GPS location and type of rental.
Sloan added there have been 176 complaints lodged so far this year, 82 coming through the hotline and website. Staff are also at the point where they will begin applying demerit points to those who violate the bylaw.
If a short-term rental receives seven points, the operator’s license will be revoked for six months. If demerits reach 15 points, the licence is suspended for two years.
Sloan added the operator could also wind up in court. He said staff have visited a number of locations where owners “outright refuse to apply” and staff are “quite prepared to draw them into the legal process.”
Concerned about addressing short-term rental issues during the upcoming May long weekend, Deputy Mayor and Ward 7 Coun. Charlie McDonald was assured staffing levels would be sufficient.
Sloan’s report was received and forwarded for further consideration at the April 30 meeting of council.