Short Term Rentals

Adrian O'Connell | Feb 10, 2021

The current discussion in North Frontenac with respect to the proposed municipal fee/licence for short term rentals of private property is being conducted amid a plethora of confusing and often misleading terminology

Firstly, more so than our American neighbours, Canadians are not permitted to do whatever they want with their private property to the detriment of their neighbours in terms of noise, nuisance etc.. Allowing fly by night, tax dodging enterprises like the U.S. based Airbnb corporation to operate in Canada has already exacerbated homelessness (specifically in Prince Edward County and elsewhere) by driving locals out of the housing market and reducing the availability of much needed rental space and has seriously affected the enjoyment of nearby property owners - an. enjoyment to which they are entitled under law.

Secondly, opponents of the licence are bandying around the familiar cliches of "tax grab" and have falsely accused the township council of seeking to "profit" from this fee. The use of these terms is disingenuous at best. The Municipal Act explicitly forbids townships from making a profit. The Act does, however, require councils to cover their costs as far as is feasible.

Furthermore, the hotels, restaurants, resorts and other businesses in this area which have invested heavily in their premises over the years and who have to pay hefty taxes already and meet strict safety and insurance regulations, should not have their enterprises undercut by the casual, unaccountable use of, for profit cottages which are zoned residential. The township is entitled to control such unlicensed use especially In the light of a pandemic which has already devastated many established registered tourism operators.

It's hard enough for businesses to turn a profit these days without turning the local tourism industry into a free for all, whereby visitors dump their garbage on local taxpayers and cause disturbances which necessitate ever increasing costs in terms of by-law enforcement and where townships then have to pick up the tab and pass the cost on to permanent residents. Where is the the good and where is the profit in that?

Adrian O'Connell