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The brand new laws will take impact in Bowen Island, Tofino, Pemberton and 14 different communities on Nov. 1
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Greater than a dozen B.C. communities initially exempt from the province’s new laws on short-term leases have determined to choose in to the restrictions as a solution to protect housing for residents and staff.
On Thursday, Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon introduced 17 communities have adopted the brand new short-term rental guidelines, together with Bowen Island, Tofino and Pemberton — communities that see a rush of vacationers and guests in the summertime.
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Municipalities with fewer than 10,000 folks, resort communities and regional districts are exempt from the principal residence requirement, which prohibit short-term leases to principal residences and both a secondary suite or laneway house/backyard suite. The brand new guidelines take impact in 65 communities throughout B.C. on Could 1.
The extra communities that signed up this week, nonetheless, will get one final summer time hurrah with the brand new guidelines not coming into impact till Nov. 1.
The 17 different communities embrace:
• District of Kent• District of Tofino• Bowen Island• Pemberton• Gabriola Island• Osoyoos• Electoral Space A (Mill Bay/Malahat)• Electoral Space C (Cobble Hill)• Electoral Space E (Cowichan Station/Sahtlam/Glenora)• Electoral Space F (Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls)• Electoral Space G (Saltair/Gulf Islands)• Electoral Space H (North Oyster/Diamond)• Electoral Space D (Skaha East/Okanagan Falls)• Electoral Space F (Okanagan Lake West/West Bench)• Electoral Space I (Skaha West/Kaleden/Apex)• Electoral Space B (Cortes Island)• Electoral Space C (Discovery Island/Mainland Inlets)
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Premier David Eby stated the rise of short-term rental apps like Airbnb, VRBO and different websites has led to a lower in hundreds of long-term rental properties in B.C. amid a housing disaster.
The brand new guidelines will “crack down on speculators who’re successfully working mini-hotels, whereas additionally guaranteeing owners can nonetheless hire out areas of their principal residence,” he stated. “As we’ve already seen, these new guidelines are turning short-term leases again into properties for individuals who dwell and work in our communities.”
In March, greater than 19,000 complete properties in B.C. had been being listed as short-term leases for many of a calendar yr, stated the province, citing knowledge from short-term rental knowledge analytics firm AirDNA.
The province has arrange an enforcement unit, which might be phased in beginning Could 1, to conduct investigations into stories of non-compliance.
Hosts who’re caught breaking the principles could be fined $500 to $5,000 a day per infraction and as much as $10,000 a day for firms, stated the province. Guests and visitor gained’t be fined, however these with short-term rental bookings after Could 1 are inspired to verify with their hosts to ensure they’re complying with native and the brand new provincial guidelines.
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Some communities, together with Parksville’s Resort Drive space, had been granted an exemption final month below the province’s strata lodge or motel exemption for models which have been working in a way much like a lodge or motel. The realm was purpose-built as tourism lodging greater than 20 years in the past.
The brand new laws is being challenged in B.C. Supreme Court docket by Victoria-based teams and the Westcoast Affiliation for Property Rights, who’re calling for a assessment of the brand new guidelines and compensation for monetary losses they may carry.
Extra to come back …
chchan@postmedia.com
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