British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 minister of housing says heB次元官网网址檚 shocked and frustrated by an attempt to recruit people to take part in what he calls a fraud to get around new rules about short-term rentals.
Ravi Kahlon shared a screenshot on social media showing a Vancouver-based rental management company offering $500 to people willing to change the address on their driverB次元官网网址檚 licence to match an address it selects, then apply for an Airbnb approval.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 to skirt new rules coming next year that would allow people to offer short-term accommodation only if itB次元官网网址檚 at their principal residence.
Kahlon says anyone considering the offer needs to understand that the scheme is illegal, and those taking part would find themselves in B次元官网网址渁 lot of trouble for really no gain.B次元官网网址�
He warns people on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, not to assist the B次元官网网址渄esperate scammers.B次元官网网址�
The government introduced legislation last month to limit short-term rentals in many cities in B.C. in an effort to put thousands of units back into the long-term rental pool, with the changes coming into effect in May.
The post from the management company has since been removed and the companyB次元官网网址檚 website cannot be viewed, but Kahlon said in an interview on Monday that it raises serious concerns.
B次元官网网址淭hat somebody would go out and suggest for $500 that people put themselves on the line for fraud, it simply doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense,B次元官网网址� said Kahlon.
Although most of the legislation wonB次元官网网址檛 be implemented until next year, Kahlon said itB次元官网网址檚 already working, with B次元官网网址渁 lot more listings going on saleB次元官网网址� and more units going into the long-term rental market.
B次元官网网址淪o, the legislation is already having an impact, a positive impact.B次元官网网址� Kahlon said. B次元官网网址淚 suspect itB次元官网网址檒l only be more in the new year, when the new principal-residence requirement kicks in.B次元官网网址�
Online platforms will be required to share data with the province, something Kahlon said will help crack down on scammers.
Kahlon said local government and the ministries of housing and finance will enforce the new rules.
B次元官网网址淟ocal governments will have information and the platforms themselves will have the responsibility to make sure any listing that goes on their site has the proper authentication, has the proper licenses from the province and local government,B次元官网网址� said Kahlon.
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