One of Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 biggest tourist destinations has surprisingly decided to join most of the rest of B.C. in restricting short-term rentals.
TofinoB次元官网网址檚 municipal council wrapped up one of the most divisive decisions of its term with a surprising twist last weeek, going against a staff recommendation and opting in to the new Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act.
Resort municipalities, including Tofino and Ucluelet, were exempt from the provincial legislation, but had the option of opting in by a March 31 deadline.
B次元官网网址淒espite the vitriol expounded by a few, one thing is clear: Tofino is special. However, Tofino is not unique in avoiding the housing crisis present in Canada as well as the western world,B次元官网网址� Coun. Duncan McMaster said.
B次元官网网址淣ot only is there a risk of a generation of people never being able to afford a home, but also the strong possibility of Tofino turning into a short term rental ghettoB次元官网网址he most affordable housing we have is our present housing stock. We must ensure that housing is reserved for people to actually live in.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚s this bill perfect? Definitely not, but it is a start and provides an enforceable baseline upon which all future short term rental revisions can be built.B次元官网网址�
McMaster spoke to claims made during Feb. 12 open house where some Tofino property owner threatened to let their units sit empty, rather than rent long-term if council opted in, cautioning that those owners could face tax implications.
B次元官网网址淪ome may sell, possibly to locals or out of towners. Some of those out of towners may actually move here. Some will prefer to leave their homes vacant. They have that right, however, be warned; I believe that council will be advocating for Tofino to be included in the provincial empty home tax,B次元官网网址� he said.
Staff had recommended the district not opt in immediately and instead use an upcoming zoning bylaw review to have a more fulsome look at the legislationB次元官网网址檚 implications.
District CAO Nyla Attiana said there was B次元官网网址渟trong supportB次元官网网址� for opting in to the legislation through written correspondence from residents, B次元官网网址渂ut those voices werenB次元官网网址檛 necessarily as represented at the town hall or in roundtable discussions.B次元官网网址�
Mayor Dan Law said the financialization of housing in Tofino and the province and the country is extremely serious and it is happening at an extremely rapid rate.
B次元官网网址淚f I had known four years ago that the prices would double, that we would lose homes to short term rentals, I probably would have acted a little sooner and maybe with a little more vigour. Seven years ago, if I had known that in the next seven years, the median value of a home would go from just over $500,000 to $1.6 million and essentially exclude every median household income earner from owning homes in Tofino, I probably would have acted sooner.
B次元官网网址淏ut, I didnB次元官网网址檛 know that.B次元官网网址�
Council voted 5-2 in favour of opting in.
TofinoB次元官网网址檚 neighbour Ucluelet elected not to opt in this year with to allow for further investigation into the legislation and see how the new regulations play out in other communities.
B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Minister of Housing Ravi Khalon was quick to congratulate Tofino on its decision, releasing a statement Wednesday morning.
B次元官网网址淭he housing crisis isnB次元官网网址檛 just an issue in large communities, it is also having a significant impact in smaller communities like Tofino,B次元官网网址� KhalonB次元官网网址檚 statement reads.
B次元官网网址淏y passing a motion yesterday to request opt-in to our short-term rental legislation, Tofino city council has made an important decision to protect homes for the people who keep the community going, while ensuring that short-term rentals are still available at principal residences for people who want to visit.B次元官网网址�
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