Short-term rental advocates fight against proposed regulations

Proposed regulations on short-term rentals could negatively affect Ottawa citizens who rely on Airbnb for their income. 

“I employ 30 people. These are the people that will lose jobs if these regulations are passed today,” Genevieve Walton, founder of Short and Suite BNB told about 100 people gathered at the Andrew S. Haydon Hall in downtown Ottawa Friday morning.

The city’s community and protective services committee was weighing staff recommendations on new regulations for short-term rental properties. The new recommended rules would address the issue of “ghost-hotels” and “party houses” in Airbnb rental properties across the city.

The proposal, if forwarded to – and accepted by – City Council would prohibit any rentals of investment properties. 

Short and Suite is an Airbnb management company. They “manage, market, and maintain properties” for home or building owners using Airbnb to rent their properties, according to their website.

Walton told the committee that her company employs many immigrants and single mothers who need to work around their children’s schedules.

George Mota is a landlord and long-time resident of Orleans who said he doesn’t believe adding regulations will improve the outlook for short-term rentals in the city.

“This regulation would reduce tourism to the area,” he said, adding many people don’t want to stay in someone’s home while the homeowners are there. 

The new regulations would restrict Airbnb hosts to renting out their primary residences only.

Donna Wishart, an Airbnb host in the Glebe and 35-year resident of Ottawa, said she is also concerned with the proposal.  

“Right now, I have a couple with a two-year old and an infant staying in my property because their house is being renovated after a sewage issue,” Wishart said. “There are no hotels near their house in the Glebe to accommodate them.” 

 She said she mostly hosts visiting parents of Carleton University students and local citizens who need a place to stay while their houses are being renovated.

“I screen every renter effectively to ensure there are no parties, as do many other hosts I know,” Wishart said. “I love my neighbours and I love my property so I can’t risk it.”

While Walton and Wishart both said they opposed limiting short-term rentals to primary residences, they said they agreed with staff recommendations to create an online permit system to keep track of all the Airbnb hosts and properties in the city.

The proposed permit fee would be $100 every two years and could be revoked if the permit holder had unpaid fees or penalties, or if there is criminal activity, serious incidents impacting public health and safety, or a property is allowed to be used as a “party house.”

During the meeting, Ottawa Police were investigating a shooting at a short-term rental property in Ottawa. 

At the time of publication, the committee is expected to vote on whether or not to send these recommendations to city council.