BC Interior realtors recommending changes to short-term rental policies

A group of BC Interior realtors are recommending that the government make changes to its short-term rental regulations.

Kadin Rainville, president of the Association of Interior Realtors, recently stopped by the NowMedia office and spoke to video host Jim Csek about the association’s new report calling for more flexibility in short-term rental regulations.

“We've compiled this data over the last year, year and a half or so to make sure that what we were asking, what claims we were making, we actually had information to support it and that's what this report does,” said Rainville.

“We're not saying that there should be no short-term rental restrictions. I think that the goal of the government is to bring down the cost of housing, which we are in an affordability crisis, so what the government is trying to achieve, they've somewhat achieved, but a blanket policy isn't good for the whole province.”

The association’s report makes four key recommendations to policymakers in the province:

1. Return zoning autonomy to local governments and allow them to designate tourism zones that are exempt from the province’s principal residence requirement
2. Enable flexibility near essential worksites and healthcare centres by creating an exemption zone around these sites
3. Align regulations with seasonal tourism needs by allowing community opt-outs to take effect immediately upon approval
4. Allow strata hotel and fractional ownership properties to operate as intended by providing them a full exemption without additional requirements

Rainville highlighted that the report attempts to find a balance that benefits several areas, including long-term renters, the tourism industry and more.

One example he gave was the potential for the implementation of seasonal restrictions, such as restrictions during the school year and then allowing for short-term rentals in the summer while students are away from school.

Another example Rainville shared was about the District of Tofino.

Earlier this year, the small Vancouver Island community’s council voted to ask the Province to place it back on the exempt land list in the Province's short-term rental accommodation regulations and opt out of the principal residence requirement.

In an update from April 1, the District of Tofino stated that the Province has approved the District’s request, but the change will not come into effect until Nov. 1.

Rainville said that if a community qualifies for an exemption, it should take effect immediately.

“We need to be very careful about what gets rolled out,” added Rainville when discussing the potential creation of new housing policies.

“We need to have balance because if we drop the floor out on costs, well, unfortunately, that's gonna have negative aspects on the economy as a whole.”

Watch the above video to hear more about the association’s report.