VANCOUVER PROTECTS SECONDARY SUITES FROM BEING USED AS SHORT-TERM RENTAL SUPPLY

July 5, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VANCOUVER PROTECTS SECONDARY SUITES FROM BEING USED 

AS SHORT-TERM RENTAL SUPPLY

 

Fairbnb.ca Coalition urges the City of Toronto to follow Vancouver’s lead

 

Toronto – July 5, 2017 – Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson continued his leadership in protecting the city’s affordable rental housing stock by banning the short-term rental of secondary suites and lane way housing.  After months of lobbying by Airbnb to gain access to this important source of affordable rental housing, we are pleased to hear that the City of Vancouver proposes to prohibit the use of secondary suites and lane way housing for short-term rental purposes, unless listed by the person who is living in them as the principal resident. The Fairbnb.ca Coalition hopes that the City of Toronto exhibits the same level of leadership and commitment to protecting its record low supply of rental housing stock.

Secondary suites, which include basement apartments, granny flats, in-law apartments or nanny suites, are self-contained rental units with a private kitchen, bathroom facilities and sleeping areas.  Many of these are located in well-established residential neighbourhoods that are in close proximity to Toronto’s downtown core. “These features make them perfect tourist rentals,” says Fairbnb’s Thorben Wieditz, “and it comes as no surprise that Airbnb is trying hard to gain access to this form of affordable rental housing in Vancouver and Toronto alike.”

Secondary suites are a vital part of the affordable housing supply in Ontario and are widely recognized as one of the most affordable forms of rental housing. The Ontario government recently required municipalities to allow for secondary suites with changes made to the Planning Act. These units were intended as long-term rental supply and not as short-term tourist rentals.

The priority for both Toronto and Vancouver is to ensure that affordable and adequate housing units are available to residents and aren’t turned into ghost hotels. “We are encouraged to see that Vancouver will protect its affordable rental housing stock from being turned into vacation rentals,” says Mary Todorow, Research and Policy Analyst with the Advocacy Centre for Tenants in Ontario (ACTO). “We expect that Toronto will exhibit the same leadership as it prepares its short-term rental regulation.”

For more information including interviews with Fairbnb.ca Coalition members contact:

Thorben Wieditz

fairbnb@fairbnb.ca | www.facebook.com/fairbnbcanada | @fairbnbcanada | 647-409-8997

 

 

 

Support our campaign

Are you concerned about ghost hotels, disruptive short-term rentals or the loss of affordable housing stock in your neighbourhood? Join our campaign and become a supporter of the coalition.

I'm in.