Airbnb urges Montreal to reject summer-only short-term rental rules

Montreal has new short-term rental rules. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV)

Airbnb Canada is urging the City of Montreal’s city council to vote against new rules that would restrict short-term rentals to the summer months.

In January, the city announced that people would only be allowed to rent their primary residences on platforms such as Airbnb between June 10 and Sept. 10, with a few exceptions.

At the time, the Plante administration said they hoped the new regulations would help return about 2,000 units to the long-term rental market.

However, in a press release, Airbnb called the proposal “extreme and shortsighted” and argued that it risks over $400 million in economic activity and jobs.

“This poorly thought-out proposal would drive up hotel prices and make travel more expensive for Quebecers – nearly 140,000 of whom stayed in an Airbnb in Montreal last year – and weakens Montreal’s ability to attract visitors for major events that fuel tourism throughout the year,” said Airbnb spokesperson Alex Howell.

The city council is set to adopt the legislation on Monday,

“Rather than enacting sensible regulations, the City would be unfairly punishing responsible everyday residents who share their own space – more than half of whom rely on this income to afford their homes during a cost-of-living crisis,” Howell continued.

The new rules will allow inspectors to issue fines of $1,000 a day as soon as a listing appears outside of the permitted period. Additionally, a second offence can cost $2,000.

Simon Charron, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, told CTV News that Airbnb’s reaction was not surprising.

“For our administration, the priority will always be to ensure affordable housing for Montrealers at a time when we are going through a housing crisis,” Charron said in a statement.

“We can’t do without these regulations, because everything must be done to support access to housing. Between illegal profits and tenant protection, we will always choose tenant protection.”

The city is also increasing the number of inspectors from four to 10. People who want to rent out their homes during the summertime months will need a permit, which costs $300.

Charron stressed the by-law does not amount to a ban, but is rather a framework to ensure Quebec’s short-term rental laws are correctly applied. Those who want to market their units will have to prove it is indeed their primary residence.

“We’ll be monitoring this with the committee we’ve set up with Tourisme Montreal, but we’re confident that the hoteliers in our territory will be able to meet tourist demand,” Charron said.

Those who already have a permit to operate legally as a full-time short-term rental won’t be affected by the new by-law.

With files from the Canadian Press.