In Newfoundland and Labrador, short-term rentals such as those offered on Airbnb and VRBO sites must not only be registered, but also comply with municipal and provincial regulations. However, according to a host from the Saint-Jean region, the rules are not clear.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Tourist Accommodation Act, which comes into effect in 2023, requires short-term rentals to be registered with the Department of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
They must also adhere to the same municipal and provincial regulations as other lodging establishments, including conducting fire inspections and paying taxes.
David Curtis owns an Airbnb in Saint-Jean. He also rents out other short-term housing through his company WeHost. He says he has registered them with the county as requested, but is still waiting to see if he will need to make any changes to his properties.
He claims that when landlords ask the city for information about rules for short-term rentals, they are told there are none.
Many people are confused and in the dark trying to understand the situation.
According to Airbnb’s website, hosts must register with the province and inquire with their municipality about the rules for rentals.
David Curtis believes that there is a lack of communication between the province and the municipality.
A regulatory framework will soon come into force
In a written statement, the spokesperson for the city of Saint-Jean said: Jackie O’Brien, confirms that there are no municipal regulations in force regarding short-term rentals and that no registration is required.
She adds that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is currently working to establish standards that will apply uniformly to all municipalities in the province.
According to the chairman of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Deborah Bourden, Short-term rental companies must ensure that they meet the safety standards of Service NL through an inspection.
They must therefore have evacuation windows, smoke detectors, emergency lighting and a commercial insurance plan.
Deborah Bourden suspects the government will conduct provincial-level audits once host registration is completed.
Photo: (Sherry Vivian/CBC)
According to Deborah Bourdenthe main reason why regulations are needed is to give tenants peace of mind.
So they can go to bed at night knowing they are safe and that our industry and our province cares
she adds.
Seven people died in a fire that broke out in Montreal last year in an Airbnb that was not registered.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, homeowners have until June 30 to comply with provincial requirements. After this date, those who do not comply will be subject to fines ranging from $250 to $2,000.
According to the report of Abby Cole by CBC