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Shame on letter writer Peter Haslock for painting all renters with the "horror stories" brush.
I am a senior renter in Kelowna, work full time, and moved here to be close to my children.
This is the first city I have ever lived in where being alone I could not afford to buy, so renting is my only option, and even then just barely.
I have nothing against AirBnBs and actually see them as good for the economy. I know someone who has one, and they rented to people last year who were in town for concerts, events, tournaments, and if those same people had tried to get, or afford, a motel they probably would not have come to Kelowna.
As a former licensed property manager, I can tell you it is simply not true that the Residential Tenancy Act is slanted in favour of tenants. I know of many cases where the mediator has found in favour of the landlord.
Renters, and landlords are entitled to have someone protect them against people who break the rules, don't pay their rent, or neglect their landlord responsibilities. If landlords properly screen their tenants (as my current landlords did) they will not have horror stories to share.
Do AirBnB hosts get credit checks, employment checks or even criminal records checks on their tenants? The majority of landlords who have problems with renters are lax in their pre-rental checks and lax in supervising their properties after the fact.
The sad fact about renting in Kelowna, short or long term, is that there just is not enough of either to make it affordable for the average tourist or resident. Even provincial campgrounds are $35 a night now. I could never have afforded to travel with my kids at that price.
I disagree with the city's decision because I know for a fact that most AirBnBs in Kelowna rent to students or others during the "off season" and tourists benefit during the busy times. Their units would not be affordable for a full-time rental year-round. For a lot of homeowners here, having a rental is the only way they can afford to buy in Kelowna.
Bernice Leduc
