1763 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

The BCSC is a crown corporation, so I have little faith in its ability to be truly neutral in regards to government legislation.

[lanforod]

I meant the Supreme Court...

[Nparker]

Ahh. That makes more sense. I have about as much faith in the BC Supreme Court as I do in any government entity.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria’s Angela Mason joined a civil suit battling the ­province’s new short-term rental ­restrictions because she is ­“devastated” by the ­negative impact on her property-­management business and on her personal unit in a historic downtown building.

 

She predicts her entire income will evaporate under the new rules, slated to come into effect May 1.

 

Mason runs Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. with Ryan Sawatsky, where client numbers have plummeted from 90 in the city’s downtown to fewer than 30. Their staff numbers have shrunk from 36, and Mason anticipates that the business will decline further. Her clients do not own ­multiple properties but have one unit for short-term rentals advertised on online ­platforms such as Airbnb, Mason said Friday.

 

They typically hold the unit as an investment and it might be a retirement property, she said.

 

Mason, for example, said she cannot afford to buy a house so she rents a house for her family. In summer 2023, she bought a 500-square-foot studio ­condominium in the ­former Oriental Hotel in the 500 block of Yates Street to use as a ­short-term rental, as was legally allowed. It was to be an ­investment for her future.

 

It’s a “cool space” with ­skylights, but has no storage, Mason said.

 

She said her legal right to rent the unit is being taken away.

 

“I’ve done everything right. Nothing illegally.”

 

Asked where her income will come from in the future, she laughed ruefully and said: “That’s a great question.”

 

The West Coast Association for Property Rights, also known as Property Rights B.C., and Mason filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court this week in ­Victoria against the province and City of Victoria.

 

B.C.’s new Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act bars most short-term rental units that are not part of a principal residence. It limits short-term rentals to a host’s principal residence or a ­basement suite or laneway home on their property.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ictoria-8596130

[Mike K.]

She said her legal right to rent the unit is being taken away.

That’s not quite true. Legal right to short-term rent, not to rent long-term.

It seems to me like there is nothing in the legislation stopping you from renting a unit to an AirBnB platform, which then has different guests using it at different times, but it remains rented to the same entity. Maybe someone can confirm if that is indeed the case.

For example, I know of rental units rented by companies, who have their employees stay at the units when working in town.

[lanforod]

That sounds like a semantic loophole that'll just get closed if abused.

[Victoria Watcher]

For example, I know of rental units rented by companies, who have their employees stay at the units when working in town.

 

Harpo's Cabaret used to have a "band house" to put the touring bands in overnight when playing here, rather than them paying for hotels and the possible disturbance.  Would that be allowed today?

[Mike K.]

There is no tenant registry, only a need to prove the unit is being rented. Harpos Cabaret Inc, today, would rent to Harpos Rentals Inc and I guess that satisfies the rules?

[Matt R.]

That’s how we do it.

[Mike K.]

There you go.

[Victoria Watcher]

This is how we do.

- Katy Perry

[Nparker]

That’s how we do it.

 

This is how we do.
- Katy Perry

https://youtu.be/0hiUuL5uTKc

[Victoria Watcher]

“The new rules not only take away tourism opportunities, but they don’t add rental stock in a meaningful way,” he said.

 

Prior to the province reigning things in, Langlois says there were roughly 650 licensed short-term rentals in Victoria. The City of Victoria tells CHEK News there are now 384. Langlois says not all the 300 units are being converted into long-term homes.

 

“Some of it is being converted into long-term rental, you’re talking 100-200 units. Some have been sold, maybe three dozen. There are some for sale, and there are others that will just sit empty,” he said.

 

Langlois says many snowbirds who come to Victoria for the winter and previously rented their condos out short term will keep their properties vacant for when they need them, taking the loss in revenue and paying the speculators tax.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...impact-1202040/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 May 2024 - 06:34 PM.

[LJ]

Very few folks pay the speculators tax, snowbirds are only out of the country for six months less a few days, so they are present more than six months of the year.

[Mike K.]

There are a growing number of reverse snowbirds here, too, that will only spend summers here. It’s too hot where they come from June-Sept.

[LJ]

There are a growing number of reverse snowbirds here, too, that will only spend summers here. It’s too hot where they come from June-Sept.

Yeah, but their governments don't try to hit them with a speculator tax.

[lanforod]

Hawaii is working on cancelling STRs too. That’s a big deal there!

[Mike K.]

Yeah, but their governments don't try to hit them with a speculator tax.

Ours does, though.

[dasmo]

For Victoria’s Angela Mason, the introduction of new province-wide rules around short-term rentals is reviving memories of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today (May 1) feels a lot like March 18, 2020,” she said. “It feels like I have to close my doors, not because of something that I did, because of something that was mandated for me to do.

“Back then, there were these feelings of confusion, there was concern, there were questions, there was uncertainty and there are a lot of those same feelings today.”
https://www.nanaimob...s-owner-7352356

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria goes to court to ban company from managing Airbnbs anywhere in city

 

 

Claims business is renting 4 downtown condos without licences

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...order-1.7233984