Beachfront property owners aren't happy with the status quo when it comes to short-term accommodations.
A new municipal bylaw governing all short-term rentals of less than seven nights is one of the recommendations a group representing Tiny shoreline owners is making to council this Monday.
The dozen or so suggestions come from a survey conducted last year. The survey had an uptake of 395 respondents, 10% of whom were short-term rental property owners, 23% were residents and the remaining were those living in properties neighbouring those rented out for short-term.
Some problems listed by participants include noise complaints, inconsiderate, rude and aggressive behaviour, crowding or misuse of the beach and constant partying.
The recommendations will be presented to committee of the whole by a Federation of Tiny Township Shoreline Association representative.
Another suggestion in the report included in the agenda (available online), says that the Tiny should require all short-term rental properties to register with the township. Further, that the registration should require the complete address and contact information of the owner, any websites/companies used for advertising the property and the number of beds and toilets it contains.
In addition, the group is suggesting that council require all registered short-term rental properties to acquire an annual municipal short-term accommodation permit (this option is supported by 45% of respondents) at a suggested $250 fee, a number based on one night’s average rental price.
Once that is done, all short-term rental properties should be required to prominently display their permits inside the property and a place a completed guide for guests (prepared by the township) and an information page inside the rental unit. The information page is proposed to contain rules for guests, educating them about noise bylaws, fire safety and bylaws, and recycling and garbage rules.
As well, the waterfront group suggests that all short-term accommodations buy a sign, which should be permanently displayed outside the rental unit in a location visible from the road. The report says this suggestion is supported by 25% of respondents.
As a form of keeping everyone in line, the group suggests that the township keep a record of all enforcement calls related to renters and accommodation property owners and deny subsequent permits to repeat offenders.
