Airbnb ads, city stats show Vancouver’s short-term rental rules being increasingly broken

The City of Vancouver’s regulations for short-term rental housing have been in place since 2018, but there are new questions about how they are being enforced.

The number of renters flouting the bylaw seems to be rising, according to city statistics.

“We take the topic of short-term rentals seriously and are currently working with staff to gain additional information on the city’s approach regarding short-term rental compliance,” said ABC party Coun. Lenny Zhou in a statement.

Short-term rental refers to a stay in a home or a room in a home that lasts less than 30 days, such as through Airbnb. This allows homeowners and tenants to make some extra income from a principal residence.

The city rules are in place to help protect the availability and cost of long-term rental housing, which is more scarce and expensive than ever. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is over $3,600, according to Rentals.ca.