Vancouver's short-term rental bylaws take effect April 19

Regulations for short-term rentals approved by the City of Vancouver in Novemberwill take effectApril 19.

Under the policy, short-term rentals of a secondary suite orlanewayhouse will only be allowed if the property is the owner's principal residence or if it is rented long-term, and the tenant wishes to operate a short-term rental, with approval of the owner.

Homeowners caught listing secondary suites or commercialunits on short-term rentalwebsiteswill face a fine of up to $1,000 per day for each infraction.

Homeowners and primary residents who wish to list properties on websites like Airbnb will be subject to an annual licensing fee of $49 and a one-time application fee of $54.

Users have until Aug.31 to apply for the licence. Homeowners caught listing units without a licence will also face fines of up to $1,000 per day come September.

According to city staff, there are about 6,600 short-term rental postings on websites like Airbnbin Vancouver up 12 per cent since the beginning of 2017.

The city estimates that around 1,000 units currently listed onAirbnbare commercial units or listings that relate to dwellings that are not legal properties.

"The goal of the city is torestorelong-term rentals," said Vancouver MayorGregorRobertson at the announcement on Wednesday.

City partners with Airbnb

Vancouver has partnered with Airbnb the most popular short-term rental website used in the city to crack down on the illegal listings.Airbnb represents about 88 per cent of units listed in the Vancouver market.

The website will soon require Vancouver operators to display a business licence in their listings. New users will also have to include a business licence in their profile. Licences can be applied for online.

Airbnb will also provide the city with a list of all Vancouver licences and associated addresses.

"It's the first agreement of its kind in Canada," said Robertson. "We're talking about many thousands of rentals that will now have to meet the terms of this new agreement."

Robertson says he hopes this agreement will set the tone for other short-term rental companies toensure users are following the rules.

The partnership marks the latest effortto clamp down on short-term rentals in B.C..

Last month, the province announced that Airbnbwill be collecting the eight-per-centprovincial sales tax amounting to an estimated $16 million annually, which government will earmark foraffordable housing and up to threeper cent municipal and regional district tax, an estimated $5 million, which will go toward promoting tourism.