CORPIQ's participation in Bill 25

This week, I'll be talking about the Corporation des propriétaires immobiliers du Québec's participation in the hearings on Bill 25 on illegal tourist accommodation in Quebec.

English subtitles are available in the settings of the video on YouTube. Don't forget to also turn on the "Subtitles/closed captions" option.

For several years now, we've been making representations to the Quebec government to tighten the rules around short-term tourist accommodations like Airbnb. The aim is above all to ensure that this type of accommodation cannot be set up if the landlord is opposed. Legislation in the real estate sector is complex, and if you add the collaborative economy into the equation, things get even more complicated for owners.

As I said in the last few weeks, the government has tabled a bill that we welcome in several respects. First, it aims to increase fines and penalties for violators of Quebec's tourist accommodation law, which is good news, since it's something we've been asking for for many years. The regulations also include the obligation to have a registration number and to always display it. There are also additional checks for tenants, to ensure that they have official authorization from their landlords to display their accommodation. So it's good news that this bill, which we welcomed in parliamentary committee on May 24, recognizes the right of owners to decide whether or not to allow one of their tenants to offer tourist accommodation in their building. Of course, some municipalities already prohibit Airbnb-type short-term accommodations, but for you as a landlord, it was sometimes difficult to navigate, especially when there was illegal tourist accommodation in one of your units. In a way, you found yourself having your property marketed and having to put up with tourists coming and going all the time, a comings and goings that also disrupted the peace and quiet of your other tenants and therefore posed real challenges for the neighborhood and your rental stock.

That's why CORPIQ has made several recommendations concerning the bill. We also hope that the introduction of this new bill by the Quebec government will go hand in hand with increased surveillance. In particular, we are thinking of a greater presence of Revenue Québec inspectors to issue fines and ensure compliance by those involved in tourist accommodation. CORPIQ has also asked the government to clarify a number of points, to prevent certain tenants from being tempted to use the law for residential rentals rather than for tourist accommodations. We are thinking, for example, of subletting, for which we would like to see the rules clarified to prevent tenants from circumventing the spirit of the law on tourist accommodation by referring to it. We know that, unfortunately, when laws are tightened on one side, some people look for the easiest ways to get around them. Currently, in laws governed by the Tribunal administratif du logement, subletting can become a loophole, which we don't want.

In short, CORPIQ has once again represented you in this matter and defended landlords on this forum, so I invite you to follow the progress and forthcoming adoption of Bill 25. I'm convinced that its introduction will tighten up the application of the law and help you, as a landlord, to ensure that when you disagree with the inclusion of tourist accommodation in your rental property, your wishes are respected. You'll be able to do this thanks to the tools at your disposal, particularly for reporting offenders, and you'll be supported by more inspections. This is important, because it is your right to demand that the intended use of your units, i.e. rental accommodation, be applied.