New provincial legislation regulating short-term rentals will take effect May 1. But for exempt communities like Cortes that will opt-in, the rules will not affect the 2024 summer tourist season, instead taking effect in the fall.
Regional Director for Area B of the Strathcona Regional District Mark Vonesch clarified the new rules.
“It’s going to encourage more renters, either by having a full time renter on the property that acts as the host for that Airbnb, or it will encourage people to have at least winter rentals as well.”
Cortes Island will not be required to adhere to the new rules until Nov. 1. Provincial and local governments supporting the legislation point to the housing crisis as motivation for the regulations.
The regional director predicts that the opt-in for Cortes will decrease property values, since the island is no longer a safe haven for AirBnb property investments.
With files from Loni Taylor.
