1 year into London's crackdown on short term rentals, owners continue to dodge licensing fee
98 unlicensed operators were hit with fines that start at $500
The City of London has collected licensing fees from only a quarter of the people operating short-term rentals listed on Airbnb in the city.
In a statement issued Monday, city staff said 152 permits were approved since the bylaw was first passed last year, with 55 applications pending. It said 98 fines have been issued to unlicensed operators, a penalty that starts at $500. Thirty-two applications were rejected.
There are just over 700 short-term rental units in London, according to the city. Airbnb alone currently lists more than 660.
Despite the vast majority of operators not having applied for the license, Wade Jeffery, the city's manager of community compliance, said they need to conduct thorough investigations before levying any fines.
"We need to make sure that we're addressing the matter with the appropriate people, put them on notice, and give them the appropriate time to comply."
The licensing process started last year when a new bylaw passed aimed at cracking down on private investors buying homes in a tight housing market. There were also concerns about parties and neighbourhoods being overtaken by short-term rentals.
Anyone who rents out their home for less than 30 days, according to the bylaw, must apply for the license. The process has been slow to catch on, with the city reminding people Monday that it's mandatory.
"The purpose of this licence is to protect the health and safety of people using these types of accommodations while ensuring they comply with municipal by-law regulations," Wade said.
"We will continue to respond to concerns and proactively address any unlicensed accommodations."
On Tuesday, London Police charged a man after a hidden camera was found in the bedroom of a rental unit in the southwest part of the city.
It was not known at the time of publication where the rental unit had been licensed with the city.
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