I see that short-term rentals are so tantalizing that extended-stay tenants are being booted out in the cold. Tenants are often given notice to move due to planned renovations, which often turn out to be minor in nature. In the case of a relative who had been living in a comfortable suite for a few years, she was advised the homeowner decided to sell the house, and after moving to a smaller and more expensive location, she discovered that plans quickly changed and her previous suite was now renting as an air b&b.
Any tenant (or landlord, on the other side of the coin) having experience with the Residential Tenancy Act, knows that it is hardly worth the vexation of dealing with a claim, and you can never go back anyway. My relative had very few options for a year-round rental, as many landlords now choose short-term profits over consistent monthly revenue. It throws a person or family into turmoil to find an affordable rental over the summer period, at a time when there is so much demand in this valley for accommodation.
As Municipalities debate whether to allow short-term rentals in secondary suites and carriage houses, great consideration should be given to potential harmful consequences of reducing choice for renters in an already tight market. Our permanent population is comprised in part of responsible people needing to rent for various reasons, who contribute year-round to the local economy and are deserving of their right to a reliable home base without constantly feeling on the edge of eviction.
L. Shoaf