Regulating Short-Term Rentals

About Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rentals are temporary accommodations (less than 30 consecutive days) provided by a property owner or principal tenant in exchange for payment. They are located in a variety of types of buildings, including apartment buildings, duplexes, condominiums, row houses, or single-detached houses, and may be an entire dwelling, or part of a unit such as a single room. 

Short-term rentals have increased in popularity in recent years in cities world-wide as a result of increased online marketing, the potential for increased household income, and a growing interest in more adaptable and flexible accommodation types. 

Online platforms provide a mechanism for hosts to advertise and manage bookings, payment, and communications. Common short-term rental platforms include Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway. 

With the growth of this emerging accommodations industry, many cities have begun to review how short-term rental activities should be regulated, looking to balance the challenges and opportunities with the industry. The following challenges and opportunities were identified in Winnipeg through an omnibus survey in March 2022. 

Top 5 challenges and concerns in Winnipeg:

• Impacts on housing market and rental housing
• Noise 
• Loss of sense of community 
• Property maintenance and destruction
• Safety in the neighbourhood 

Top 5 opportunities and benefits in Winnipeg:

• Flexible accommodations
• Contributions to the tourism industry
• Income for hosts
• Increase in activity / foot traffic
• Support for local economy 

Regulations in other cities have provided solutions to neighbourhood livability issues, rental housing supply/affordability concerns, or tax inequities. The details and specifics of regulations vary between Canadian municipalities, tailored to meet the unique needs of each community. To help identify the best way to approach regulations for the industry in Winnipeg, the City is exploring concerns further and developing a method of regulating this growing market. Working in collaboration with Winnipeg residents and short-term rental hosts and operators, the City seeks to establish regulations for short-term rental accommodations that:

• Support diverse and equitable accommodation options in Winnipeg that contribute to tourism, economic development, and showcase Winnipeg neighborhoods, including downtown; 
• Support the health and safety of Winnipeg residents and renters of short-term rentals; 
• Enhance accountability of hosts and operators to neighbourhood livability standards and respond to concerns with noise, property damage and maintenance, and illegal activities

Types of Regulations