BY MIRANDA CHANT published in CKNXnewstoday.ca
Londoners renting out all or part of their property on short-term accommodation sites like Airbnb and Vrbo are being reminded they need a licence to do so in the city.
The City of London issued the reminder on Monday.
In London, residents who want to rent out all or part of their home for 29 days or less have to apply for an annual short-term accommodation business licence at a cost of $187.08. The licence requirement has been in effect in London since October 2022. The bylaw was created to help address nuisance parties and other neighbourhood disturbances caused by short-term rental properties. It requires the licensee to live in the house they are renting.
So far this year, the city has issued 152 short-term rental licences and another 55 licences are pending review or inspection. Just over 30 applications have been refused, according to the city.
Penalties have been issued for 98 unlicensed operators, to-date.
“The purpose of this licence is to protect the health and safety of people using these types of accommodations, while ensuring they comply with municipal by-law regulations,” said Wade Jeffery, the city's manager of community compliance. “We will continue to respond to concerns and proactively address any unlicensed accommodations.”
A bylaw enforcement blitz held earlier this year identified 366 unlicensed properties in the city.
The penalty for operating an unlicensed short-term rental in London is $500. This fine may be doubled for repeat offences, the city has warned.
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