Tourist Accommodation: CORPIQ Concerned over Circumvention of New Law

Bill-67’s aim to better control those who rent their apartment to tourists without a permit has only recently come into force and already Airbnb users have found a way to legally bypass it.

Indeed, the law specifies that a «tourist accommodation establishment» is considered as such if it is «offered for rent in return for payment for a period not exceeding 31 days. » Thus, a tenant only has to indicate in their ad that their housing unit is available for a period of over a month to comply with the regulation. However, nothing is preventing them from subsequently negotiating a shorter rental period with their customers. Since Tourism-Quebec’s verifications are made via published ads, used as proof, offenses fall through the cracks.

A Gatineau landlord, also member of CORPIQ, has observed this ploy. His tenant, who has rented her apartment to tourists several times in recent weeks, has changed her online ad after receiving a visit from an inspector and a notice to comply. Other cases of abuse of this kind have also been reported, however the Department admits to being helpless.

CORPIQ contacted the office of the Minister of Tourism, Julie Boulet, to stress the importance of quickly dispatching inspectors to the scene to report illegal subletting and to crack down such activities by handing statements of offense. CORPIQ stated that, by consulting ads derived from complaints or from which it is obvious to assume that they are addressed to tourists, it would be easy for inspectors to call the offender and ask them if they would accept reservations for 31 days or less, thus obtaining evidence of non-conformity.  CORPIQ is convinced that higher fines would increase awareness and restrain the majority from illegally subletting their dwelling.