Airbnb: nobody is enforcing the law
Boroughs may have passed laws limiting Airbnb to certain streets or zones, but nobody is enforcing these laws and many technically illegal rentals are being advertised openly on the Airbnb site. Even if the city outlawed Airbnb and its ilk completely, as suggested by FRAPRU, it seems likely things would still continue as they have been. It’s similar to how Uber arrived here, running an illegal operation but trusting to sheer demand to force its acceptance on a weak government.
Ephraim 09:47 on 2020-03-04 Permalink
Firstly, as I have pointed out, the agency in charge of ensuring it is done legally is Revenu Quebec and they aren’t doing their job. FRAPRU and others need to push Revenu Quebec to actually do it’s job. At $2500/$5000 a day in fine, just a few big hits will scare the market, especially if they just make reservations for 4 days and send in a $10K/$20K fine. Nothing gets more attention than the bill from hell and an audit from RQ.
There is only one way to reign in AirBnB and that is… go after it, tax wise. There are a few taxes to collect here that aren’t being collected at the moment… GST/QST, commercial property tax and ensure that the income taxes are declared and paid. And in the case of the city, send in a commercial property assessment for the whole property and let them contest it.
There are things that they can do… they just aren’t actually doing. Which opens up an even bigger question… should Revenu Quebec not have to present an auditted report showing that they are, in fact, doing their job and ensuring that everyone in Quebec, from the rich to the poor are being served appropriately by RQ? If they have a portfolio that they are in charge of and aren’t actually taking care of, should it not be exposed?
Chris 09:49 on 2020-03-04 Permalink
Kate, why do you suppose it’s “weak government” as opposed to duplicitous government? To me, it’s just one of many examples where they make a law but don’t actually ever touch their corporate friends.
Kate 10:18 on 2020-03-04 Permalink
You’re pretty much saying the same thing, Chris. The Couillard government was weak at the knees like a Regency heiress at how masterfully Uber swept in, ignored our laws and started turning a buck. Same ditto with Airbnb. Never mind the outrage of legitimate taxi companies, or the hotels and regular bnb’s, that had all doggedly obeyed the laws for years. The sheer disruptiveness made the Quebec government weak.
Ian 14:52 on 2020-03-04 Permalink
No point passing laws nobody’s going to enforce but yeah, this is out of the hands of the city.
I know Couillard et al were caught off-balance by “disruptive” businesses but Legault you’d think would be more savvy, especially coming from the business world himself. Naturally this all makes me suspect the brown envelopes are duly stuffed.
Chris 15:04 on 2020-03-04 Permalink
Kate, ok, perhaps I misunderstood your meaning of ‘weak’.
Ian, though it wouldn’t surprise me, I don’t think brown envelopes are even needed. It’s just a mindset of: buisness knows best, can do no wrong, and should be left to do it’s thing.