Illegal Airbnb accommodations: CORPIQ wants stricter enforcement of the legislative framework
The Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec (CORPIQ) is calling on all political parties in Quebec City to review and enforce the legislative framework surrounding the short-term rental of Airbnb-type accommodations. In a recent survey conducted among 1,200 CORPIQ members, it was found that 4.78% of them have been confronted with situations where tenants, without the landlord's authorization, have illegally sublet a dwelling on an "Airbnb" type platform. On a Quebec-wide scale, it is estimated that there are at least 13,000 dwellings that have been illegally sublet by a tenant, in whole or in part.
"It is not normal that Quebec regulates, through the Civil Code of Quebec, the rental of a dwelling, the application of which is in many respects the responsibility of the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), but that a tenant can easily sublet his or her dwelling on platforms such as "Airbnb", and this, often in non-conformity with municipal regulations. The landlords of rental housing are still trying to provide a roof over the heads of 1.3 million households in a context of scarcity in several regions. Landlords maintain their dwellings but see the purpose of their units being hijacked by tenants who want to illegally monetize the space for tourism purposes. The legislator must reinforce its law and better protect the landlords and the rental stock in Quebec. This phenomenon is the tip of the iceberg" explained Mr. Marc-André Plante, Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations of CORPIQ.
It should be noted that a recent article published in the national media estimated that there are at least 25,000 dwellings posted on short-term accommodation platforms such as "Airbnb" in Quebec, including all types of dwellings. The CORPIQ study therefore demonstrates that at least 13,000 dwellings are illegally diverted from the market by tenants. The absence of a real surveillance and a serious supervision is decried by all and CORPIQ urges the government to act.
"Quebec must absolutely adopt a real strategy to promote long-term ownership of rental properties by first protecting the current and future real estate stock against tourist rentals that have a negative impact on the real estate market in many regions. In addition, enforcement of the law governing short-term tourist rentals is needed through systematic audits. The situation requires changes in several respects. In particular, monitoring must be intensified, and fines must be increased for violators of the law. The marketing of housing by tenants must be better monitored by the authorities. Recent rulings by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) are glaring examples of the need for tougher action," concluded Plante.
