City of Kamloops welcomes new legislation to limit use of short-term rentals

KAMLOOPS — The number of short-term rentals — such as Airbnb and VRBO — has expanded rapidly over recent years in British Columbia. With the province facing a housing crisis, the government is taking action to regulate short-term rentals.

More than 16,000 homes are being used as short-term rentals in B.C. Airbnb Kamloops lists more than 750 rental places, making it more challenging to find an affordable long-term rental in the city.

“These services have come into communities to offer that service and local governments — and the communities themselves — have struggled throughout this housing crisis to understand how we can restrict or allow the business to succeed, knowing that we are in a housing crisis right now,” explained Will Beatty, Acting Community Service manager with the City of Kamloops.

Under the new legislation, short-term rentals will be limited to the host’s principal residence plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit. The new rules apply for all communities with populations of 10,000 people or more.

Beatty welcomes the new legislation but acknowledges challenges when it comes to enforcing the rules.

“Even with the changes, it’s very difficult to enforce based on the staffing resources we have,” he said. “This is a collaborative approach with the government, the province of B.C. and municipal governments. What does that look like for enforcement? It’s very difficult to say, but it is a good first attempt.”