The City of Kitchener is considering licensing short-term rentals like Airbnbs and asking for feedback from both landlords and renters.
The CEO Matthew Opferkuch at The Laundry Rooms, a short-term rental company offering condo units in Kitchener, thinks it’s a good idea.
The possible change comes as the city reviews its lodging house bylaw. The bylaw doesn’t currently cover short-term rentals, but could be expanded to.
Helen Fylactou, manager of licensing for the city, says right now, they’re looking for feedback from the public.
“What could we put in place that makes them feel safe and secure, have some consumer protection and can still work with the owners of the property, the neighbours and the residents residing in these,” Fylactou explains.
Short-term rental licensing could also cover accessory units like sheds or tiny homes, driveways, parking spots, pools and backyards.
While it’s too early to say what licensing would look like in Kitchener, in Waterloo licences are only needed for low-rise residential units like duplexes or townhomes.
The Laundry Rooms sees licensing as a benefit for high-rises too, and hopes it will weed out bad actors.
The city’s public feedback survey is open until June 6.