British Columbia’s provincial government is creating a registry for short-term rental housing that is designed to crack down on speculators operating illegally.
Canadian Press reports all British Columbia-based short-term rental operators on platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo need to obtain a registration number that will be displayed on all online listings by May 1. The annual registration fees will range from $100 for hosts who live at the property, $450 for those who off-site, and $600 for so-called strata hotels.
Operators who sign up by Feb. 28 will receive a 50% discount on their registration fees, while those who register by March 31 will get a 25% discount.
Hosts that fail to obtain the registration number will have their listings taken down starting June 1. British Columbia Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon stated the registry was designed to address operators that fail to comply with provincial short-term rental regulations.
“We believe homes are for people and not for speculation, and this registry will allow us to take the enforcement to the next step,” he said, adding, “People still want to visit BC. People still want to live in BC.”
