Quebec tables bill to crack down on unregistered B&Bs

The Quebec government has tabled a bill to crackdown on illegal accommodation by penalizing those who regularly rent out lodgingswithout a permit.

This bill doesn'ttarget peoplewho occasionally rent out their home or a room throughhome-sharing services such asAirbnb, but it takes aim atthose who rent out one or more propertiesto tourists on a regular basis.

Bill 67defines just who is atouristand differentiates between tourist accommodation and occasional accommodation. It proposesstiff fines against those who offerunlicensedtourist accommodation, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. It alsoincreases the number of accommodationinspectorsto 16 from the current two.

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Renting out private houses and apartments has become increasingly popular, thanks to fast-growing websitessuch asAirbnbthat help tourists find short-term accommodation in homes and apartments around the worldoften ata substantiallycheaper price than hotels.

"We are not targetingthese collaborative platforms, and we don't wish to constrain their existence. What we want is for people who run touristaccommodation in Quebec to follow the established rules," Quebec Tourism Minister Dominique Vien said.

Vien defined a tourist accommodation as one that is rented out on a regular basis and publicly advertised.

Hotels complain of unfair competition

Over the last few years, Quebec's hotel industry has said the new trend toward home-sharing is cutting into its members' profits.

People in the hotel industry say it's unfair competition because individuals who rent out their homes, or a room in their homes, are doing so without a permit.

In Quebec, residents are not allowed to advertise online or rent out their apartment on a regular basisfor fewer than 31 dayswithout registering and paying a $250 fee.

"We cannot ignore the situation or pretend it doesn't exist,"Viensaid last spring, when the issue of legislating the practice was first raised.

Airbnb's reponse

On its public policy blog, Airbnb welcomed the bill, saying it clearly differentiatesprofessional tourism businesses and non-professional hosts "who make up the majority of the Airbnb community."

"By introducing clear and simple rules for home sharing, Quebec will join the growing list of destinations around the world that are implementing progressive rules that increase consumer choice and support regular people for whom this income is an economic lifeline," Airbnbspokesperson Patrick Robinson said.

If the bill is adopted, Quebec would be the first province in Canada to crack down on the practice of renting rooms without a permit.