City isn’t hiring inspectors for Airbnb
As we’ve been saying in comments here, there’s no point in passing laws you can’t enforce. So when the city says it won’t be hiring more inspectors to check out illegal Airbnbs, and they’re relying on Revenu Québec to lower the boom, it’s discouraging. Among other things, RQ doesn’t feel it’s part of its job to enforce bylaws about where Airbnbs can operate in any borough.
Why is RQ not its usual rapacious self when faced with Airbnb? Anyone have a theory?
But re the inspectors, in boroughs with delimited Airbnb zones, you don’t need to send out a lot of guys in cars. You need someone to go through the website, make a list of offerings illegal in their locations, and send out mises en demeure. Two weeks later, if they have not taken down their listings, then you go around with padlocks.
Spi 09:01 on 2020-03-05 Permalink
Possibly because Airbnb is a significant local employer through their purchase of luxury retreats several years back? They’re even in the process of building new offices on the southside of the Lachine Canal.
Craig Sauvé 09:08 on 2020-03-05 Permalink
Hi! The municipal fines are very low (2,500$), whereas provincial fines are up to 25,000$ a pop.
Also, an inspector’s role in giving fines is unclear (do have they have to spend the night, or can they write up a fine from a distance), despite a recent ruling; whereas RevQ inspectors can apply fines rather easily.
Chris 12:27 on 2020-03-05 Permalink
>there’s no point in passing laws you can’t enforce
Sure there is. It lets you say to one constituency: look, we’re doing something! While saying to the other: don’t worry, we’re doing nothing. Also, it’s not that they _can’t_ enforce, it’s that they _don’t_.
My theory is the government sees it this way: lots of people use Airbnb and love it. (That much is indisputable). Those who rent out their place like it. Visitors like it. It maybe brings in more tourists. The only people who don’t like it are: hoteliers, and renters. For the former, well, they are few, and anyway business competition is religion. For renters, well, they are poor and powerless, so screw them anyway.
Kate 13:59 on 2020-03-05 Permalink
they are poor and powerless, so screw them anyway.
Maybe so, but the housing crisis is a big problem, here and elsewhere, and politicians can’t neglect it completely. It’s hollowing cities out.
Ian 18:22 on 2020-03-05 Permalink
Yes, but as Chris points out, this debate about whether it’s municipal or provincial jursidiction allows PM, especially Richard Ryan to go on at length about all the hard work they are doing to fight AirBnB without actually enforcing anything and the province, especially RQ, to go on at length about how they have everything under control… so both parties can claim to be “addressing the problems” and can also say “our hands are tied”.
But Kate, to your original question:
“Why is RQ not its usual rapacious self when faced with Airbnb? Anyone have a theory?”
Yes. Someone is on the take, big. This is Quebec. When someone claims their hands are tied, they are getting paid off. Always. As anyone who has ever dealt with the city or RQ knows, if they are really after you, they will find something. It’s like if you get stopped by a cop, there’s always something they can give you a ticket for. That nobody is doing anything speaks volumes. AirBnB is a very, very wealthy company that has already been outright banned in many cities around the world. Of course they don’t want that to happen in Montreal.
Joey 09:49 on 2020-03-06 Permalink
Revenu Quebec’s timidity on this file is not in keeping with their approach to literally everything else. Case in point: https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/202002/27/01-5262681-linacceptable-marchandage-de-revenu-quebec.php
Ephraim 12:59 on 2020-03-06 Permalink
Hey, if RQ will give me half the fine money, I’ll work for them for free… all they have to do is prosecute. I’ll just run around town and make reservations on illegals for 4 days, send in the information and collect $5K per pop. No outlay for inspectors at all.