Hefty new fines for illegal Airbnb operations went into effect in Quebec last month. (John MacDougall/Getty Images)
The City of Vancouver only allows short-term rentals if they are in a person’s primary residence. Renters must have permission from their landlord and the strata in order to obtain a licence, which is required.
In response to inquiries from CBC News, the city confirmed that it advised the owner to reach out to Airbnb directly.
The city also said it has a dedicated short-term rental team “that takes a proactive approach to investigate any non-compliance with regulations.” Those who violate the city’s regulations may face fines of up to $1,000.
When Wojtowicz’s husband contacted Airbnb, the company suggested he reach out to the company managing the listing.
“Airbnb is an online platform and does not own, operate, manage or control accommodations,” a representative told him in an email.
In response to questions from CBC News, Airbnb said this was a private matter between a landlord and tenant, and enforcement lies with the City of Vancouver.
The company says it requires all hosts in Vancouver to provide a registration number, and it shares this data with the city on a monthly basis.
Province working to support municipalities
Wojtowicz says he changed the fobs and the locks to prevent future travellers from staying at the suite. The property was taken off Airbnb in late January.
The matter didn’t go to adjudication at the Residential Tenancy Board until July, after which Wojtowicz says he settled privately with the tenant.
Wojtowicz says he’s not against short-term rentals, but he would like to see more regulations to ensure they’re operating legally.
He wants the province to implement laws like those recently passed in Quebec, which force companies like Airbnb to work with municipalities to verify that listings are licensed and legal.
On Friday, Kahlon said stories like these are heard “all too often in B.C.” and the province is working to support municipalities to enforce compliance of local bylaws.