4 ms·

Why doesn't the home owners association crack down on the short term rentals?

run4yourlives2 10y ago
Short answer: One of two scenarios... 1. Because the Strata (HOA in Canada) has no idea this is even an option. 2. Because most of them are in favour of it, (most likely). A big issue with a lot of condos in major cities (particularly new construction) is that upwards of 50% of them (sometimes, even higher) are owned by investors not actually living in the building. It's only on site owners that care about the actual goings on of the space. Everyone else is just looking to make a buck.
- woofyman 10y ago
  The building manager of my condo gave owners of Airbnb listed units 2 weeks to remove the listings or face fines.
  - run4yourlives2 10y ago
    The building manager is employed by the Strata, so in your case either the Strata bylaw already existed, or the Strata Council acted without explicit authorization. (Which they may have after seeing this issue regarding zoning.) This is why AGM's, Strata bylaws and Strata Council meeting minutes are important to read, not just throw into recycling.
- chx 10y ago
  Our building always had a short term ban, last year we added a specific anti-Airbnb clarification to it. Also, while normal bylaw violation is a $200 fine, rental violations are $500 fine and if I recall correctly, strata can fine you every week for that amount. As crazy Vancouver is, it still could be worth it but I also believe that a repeated infraction even if you pay the fines can lead to a lawsuit.
mistermann 10y ago
Possibly for the same reason even the Canada Revenue Agency won't do it's job, fear of racism: http://www.richmond-news.com/news/cra-ups-its-game-targeting-property-cheats-in-new-campaign-1.2303255 http://www.richmond-news.com/news/cra-ups-its-game-targeting...
aquadrop 10y ago
Maybe it's unpopular opinion here, but why short term rentals are bad? I personally love short term rentals, hotels suck compare to them. I hopped over asia and europe with 4-10 days at one place at a time, using AirBnB and it was great. I want home-like experience when I travel, I don't want to stay in overpriced micro-rooms without kitchen where I can't even make a tea. Some people mentioned that condo inhabitants 'don't like living in a hotel', but what specifically is the problem? That many people are going in and out? I don't really know if it's the problem itself if those are decent people. And still most of the people would be full time If there are related issues, maybe it's best to address the issues (I don't know what they are though, nobody explained it)? Because AirBnb looks like a good platform to manage those issues, turn chaotic market into more sane and organized. I think best strategy would be for AirBnb and building-owners to work together, to keep asshollish visitors outside (they are the problem, not short term rentals itself), put more incentive for rent-givers to watch over who they rent appartment/house to, etc P.S. I never was on another side of the fence (i.e. living in the building with many short term rental visitors), so maybe I don't understand/underestimate something.
- Symbiote 10y ago
  Short term (especially weekend) tenants don't care about the neighbours or the building. They'll have noisy parties, not know where the bins are and leave rubbish in the hallways, and clatter their suitcase up or down the stairs at 4:30 to take a cheap flight home. > I think best strategy would be for AirBnb and building-owners to work together I'd like to see a way for building owners, or local government, to get a feed of every listing on AirBnB. They can then terminate leases, or whatever.
  - aquadrop 10y ago
    > Short term (especially weekend) tenants don't care about the neighbours or the building. So probably the smaller period the higher rating/experience of the tenant. And of course fines for landlords. > I'd like to see a way for building owners, or local government, to get a feed of every listing on AirBnB. They can then terminate leases, or whatever. You propose AirBnB give out gun to shot AirBnB :) That's not what I meant, more like notifications who rented what, so building owners could report/fine right landlord later.
Symbiote 10y ago
The company that manages the building I live in, in Copenhagen, dealt very quickly when I reported an apartment on AirBnB. I don't know what they did, but the regular noise at weekends didn't return. Everyone who doesn't sublet their apartment year round should be against AirBnB in their building. It can only push the rent up.

Short answer: One of two scenarios... 1. Because the Strata (HOA in Canada) has no idea this is even an option. 2. Because most of them are in favour of it, (most likely). A big issue with a lot of condos in major cities (particularly new construction) is that upwards of 50% of them (sometimes, even higher) are owned by investors not actually living in the building. It's only on site owners that care about the actual goings on of the space. Everyone else is just looking to make a buck.

woofyman 10y ago
The building manager of my condo gave owners of Airbnb listed units 2 weeks to remove the listings or face fines.
- run4yourlives2 10y ago
  The building manager is employed by the Strata, so in your case either the Strata bylaw already existed, or the Strata Council acted without explicit authorization. (Which they may have after seeing this issue regarding zoning.) This is why AGM's, Strata bylaws and Strata Council meeting minutes are important to read, not just throw into recycling.
chx 10y ago
Our building always had a short term ban, last year we added a specific anti-Airbnb clarification to it. Also, while normal bylaw violation is a $200 fine, rental violations are $500 fine and if I recall correctly, strata can fine you every week for that amount. As crazy Vancouver is, it still could be worth it but I also believe that a repeated infraction even if you pay the fines can lead to a lawsuit.

mistermann 10y ago

Possibly for the same reason even the Canada Revenue Agency won't do it's job, fear of racism: http://www.richmond-news.com/news/cra-ups-its-game-targeting-property-cheats-in-new-campaign-1.2303255 http://www.richmond-news.com/news/cra-ups-its-game-targeting...

aquadrop 10y ago

Maybe it's unpopular opinion here, but why short term rentals are bad? I personally love short term rentals, hotels suck compare to them. I hopped over asia and europe with 4-10 days at one place at a time, using AirBnB and it was great. I want home-like experience when I travel, I don't want to stay in overpriced micro-rooms without kitchen where I can't even make a tea. Some people mentioned that condo inhabitants 'don't like living in a hotel', but what specifically is the problem? That many people are going in and out? I don't really know if it's the problem itself if those are decent people. And still most of the people would be full time If there are related issues, maybe it's best to address the issues (I don't know what they are though, nobody explained it)? Because AirBnb looks like a good platform to manage those issues, turn chaotic market into more sane and organized. I think best strategy would be for AirBnb and building-owners to work together, to keep asshollish visitors outside (they are the problem, not short term rentals itself), put more incentive for rent-givers to watch over who they rent appartment/house to, etc P.S. I never was on another side of the fence (i.e. living in the building with many short term rental visitors), so maybe I don't understand/underestimate something.

Symbiote 10y ago
Short term (especially weekend) tenants don't care about the neighbours or the building. They'll have noisy parties, not know where the bins are and leave rubbish in the hallways, and clatter their suitcase up or down the stairs at 4:30 to take a cheap flight home. > I think best strategy would be for AirBnb and building-owners to work together I'd like to see a way for building owners, or local government, to get a feed of every listing on AirBnB. They can then terminate leases, or whatever.
- aquadrop 10y ago
  > Short term (especially weekend) tenants don't care about the neighbours or the building. So probably the smaller period the higher rating/experience of the tenant. And of course fines for landlords. > I'd like to see a way for building owners, or local government, to get a feed of every listing on AirBnB. They can then terminate leases, or whatever. You propose AirBnB give out gun to shot AirBnB :) That's not what I meant, more like notifications who rented what, so building owners could report/fine right landlord later.

Symbiote 10y ago

The company that manages the building I live in, in Copenhagen, dealt very quickly when I reported an apartment on AirBnB. I don't know what they did, but the regular noise at weekends didn't return. Everyone who doesn't sublet their apartment year round should be against AirBnB in their building. It can only push the rent up.