The growing drive by Ontario municipalities to regulate, license and crack down on online short-term rental services such as Airbnb may make hosts and landlords legally vulnerable like never before, according to experts.
The changing legal landscape around short-term rentals includes more rigorous standards and could result in extra damages for plaintiffs, especially if a court finds owners and operators weren’t following local laws.
“You may expose yourself as an operator or a host to additional liability, for example, if you try to get around municipal licensing and operate on a short-term basis without meeting municipal requirements,” said Laura Gurr, a partner with Cohen Highley LLP who specializes in condominium and affordable housing law.
Gurr said owners and hosts need to understand liability risks.