A house divided: Saanich homeowners, renters split over relaxing rental rules

It was a full house at a District of Saanich council meeting Monday night as homeowners debatedhow fulla house should really be.

More than a dozen residents turned up to talk abouta bylaw that allows only four unrelated people to live togetherin rental properties in the municipality north of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Council plans to reconsiderthe bylaw, but most speakers did not want it changed.

"We often hear about renters' rights and landlords' rights. What about homeowners' rights?" asked Carol MacDonald, one of the speakers at the meeting. She asked what would happen if council allowed 10 adults to share a home.

"We would have 10 students with potentially 10 vehicles. Ten adults who potentially enjoy a good, noisy party Ten busy students with little time nor desire to engage in property maintenance."

The bylaw became an issue after University of Victoria student Emma Edmonds told council last month that she and her six roommates were being evictedfor being afoul of the law.

Council planned to briefly discuss the issue and ask staff to present a list of options for further consideration, but spent a considerable amount of time listening to about 15 people who spoke on the matter. The majority were homeowners concerned about or dead set against the change.

Edmonds attended the meeting andcalled itfrustrating.

"If we change the one bylaw, it's not going to make it a crazyrenting-festlike I think people are scared of," Edmonds said.

"Everyone [at the meeting] will get up to speak and say, we really sympathize with you and we did the same thing at your age. But now we don't like it."

Staff to take longer look at potential changes

Mayor Fred Haynes said he was not surprised by the interest in the bylaw and wanted to reassure residents that any proposed change would receive public input before council makes a decision.

He saidMonday's meeting showed thatresidents have real concerns aboutproblems withparking, noise and safety that could come from loosening therules on home rentals.

It also showed a generational dynamic at play: older homeowners with very different concerns than younger renters.

"This isn't the older generation versus the younger generation," Haynes added. "This is a collective issue for our whole community."

He said that another result of Monday's meeting is that staff will take a deeper look at its recommendations to council and report back in possibly two months.

Edmonds said it was disappointing that more young people didn't show up. Sheplans togive councilwhat she calls a fuller picture of supportfor affordable rentals in Saanich.