Kitchener considering bylaw changes requiring licensing of Airbnb style rentals

The City of Kitchener is considering bylaw changes in an effort to better protect group housing and short-term renters.

The proposed Shared Accommodation bylaw aims to meet a growing need for regulation and counter oversight of short-term and lodging house rentals.

Lodging houses are defined by the city as a dwelling where five or more people live, and short-term rentals include any house that provides sleeping accommodations for a rental period of less than 90 consecutive days.

Those definitions can include student residences but do include any group homes, hospitals, small or large residential care facilities that are licensed, approved, or supervised under any general or specific act, or hotels.

Currently, any lodging house rentals that fit the definition are required to be licensed with the city to enforce safety standards, reasonable fees and quality assurance. Vacation rentals like Airbnb-type houses are not required to be licensed.

However, only about 20 lodging houses are currently licensed and the city believes as many as 1,100 lodging and short-term rentals that fit the definitions are unregulated.

In a staff report, the city said this new bylaw would allow lodging houses and short-term rentals to be permitted city-wide, anywhere residential uses are allowed.

The hope is this would force any illegally operating lodging houses to get a licence and short-term rentals would now be required to get a licence to operate.

The city notes that these changes will provide a balance between protecting the interests of residents and allowing property owners the ability to generate more opportunities while prioritizing safety.

If approved the new bylaw will undergo a 3-year review period allowing staff to looking into an expansion of the program to potentially include all types of rentals. The city notes the review period will include the collection of data through inspections, permits and service calls.

The city also notes for the program to be successful, they may need to add an additional 3 personnel to administer, inspect and enforce the proposed bylaw.

Kitchener city councillors will consider the changes at a committee meeting Monday evening.