Why this Airbnb operator is worried about possible regulations

The owner of an Airbnbrental home in Georgetown, P.E.I., says she is concerned with regulations that could change the rules of the industry.

Stacy Toms said there is too much negative talk from politicians and other groups and individuals, soshe recently posted on social media defending short-term rentals.

"Trying to give a different face on it, it's not necessarily big corporations, it'ssmall families just trying to make a bit of extra money,"Toms said.

The Toms family bought a home about two years agowith another relative,and rented it out this summer.

"Just a way to give us a bit of extra income," she said. "We invested in our future."

Toms and her husband are self-employed running an art gallery and bakery in Georgetown, and the short-term rental is right next door to their home and business.

Opportunity for rural tourism

Toms said in Georgetown, she doesn't see short-term rentals as taking away from the long-term housing market.

"There's housing available for sale that people have notscooped up quickly," Toms said.

She said there are four houses on her street currently for sale.

Toms said short-term rentals like Airbnbs also help to bring more people to the area.

"It brings tourists, it brings visitors, maybe to places that wouldn't get it otherwise," she said.

"This is a house that nobody was living in at the time, that was fixed up because of this."

Hotel association wants level playing field

Craig Jones, president of the P.E.I. Hotel Association, describes short-term rentals as a "massive" industry.

He said he thinks they should be limited to primary residences only and said theassociation wants to see all accommodation businesses on a level playing field.

He said as a small province, P.E.I. relies on tax revenues and short-term rentals shouldn't be given an unfair advantage.

"They want to act like a hotel, they want to advertise likea hotel, but they're not following the same rules," he said.

Jones said there are owners who have multiple properties on P.E.I. and he said more information is needed.

He said the hotel industry knows short-term rentals are here to stay.

"It is competition for sure," he said. "It's one of our number one concerns,"

'Regulate it well and smartly'

Toms points out thatshe pays registration feesand is inspected annually and worriesthat new regulations could affect their short-term rental.

"You would hate for regulations to come in tomorrow, if you don't live in it, you can't rent it," she said.

She said they are in an area that is zoned to allowbusinesses,so she's hopeful the rental would be allowed.

"I hope they regulate it well and smartly."

Airbnb public policy managerAlexandra Dagg said the company, through its operators, wants local governments to benefit from the economic impact of "home sharing."

Dagg said, "We have agreements in more than 400 jurisdictions globally, including multiple provinces and municipalities in Canada, to collect and remit tourism taxes on behalf of our hosts and guests."

The company added that manyAirbnb hosts use property managers, so while it may appear that one host owns multiple units, they are "simply managing homes on behalf of others."

Hannah Bell, the Official Opposition House leader,recently introduced a bill that would require short-term rentals to share data with government around how many listings owners have and how often units are rented.

The bill has passed second reading so far.

"We need to make decisions that are based on what the data tells us," she said.

Bell said the number of short-term rentals in Charlottetownis "shockingly high" and she expects more regulation will be coming soon from the municipal governments.

She said other jurisdictions have limited the number of properties per owner.

"I would personally like to see that," she said. "There is a limit onwhat the market can cope with."

Bell recognizes the positive impact short-term rentals have had as well and believes it can work if they are better regulated.

"It's about being fair and equitable across the board," she said. "There is a limit on what the market can cope with,"

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