As the cost of living and travelling continue to climb in the Calgary region, many homeowners and travellers alike are looking to alternatives to offset their expenses.
As the cost of living and travelling continue to climb in the Calgary region, many homeowners and travellers alike are looking to alternatives to offset their expenses.
Airbnb is one of those alternatives - the online marketplace that allows homeowners to rent out rooms, suites, beds or entire homes short-term for prices set by the user, with the Airbnb broker service receiving a commission off each rental.
The global company has more than three millions lodgings in 65,000 cities in 191 countries.
According to the Airbnb website, there are currently 141 Cochrane rental listings - ranging from hundreds to tens of dollars each night.
As regulations, or lack thereof, have become an issue of concern in nearby tourist mountain towns of Canmore and Banff and is now on the table in Calgary - with Coun. Ward Sutherland putting a motion forward last fall to regulate short-term rentals - Cochrane may take a look at what parameters should or should not be put into place for Airbnb rentals in town.
For Cochrane Coun. Morgan Nagel, an advocate for the free market and entrepreneurialism - it sounds like a case of government putting its nose where it doesn't belong.
“It really bothers me that we live in this society where when anything moves the government gets involved to regulate it, ” said Nagel. “I'm not in favour of regulation for the sake of regulation. ”
Nagel said to the best of his knowledge, the majority of homeowners who rent out spaces are only earning a nominal income stream and not enough to be of any concern.
He likens the scenario to the “food truck fiasco ” of the last council - where he viewed the restrictions placed onto the small business operators as onerous.
Mayor Jeff Genung said while he is aware that Airbnbs have been an issue of concern in tourist towns, he has not been made aware that it's a Cochrane problem and does not feel it is necessary for government to interfere unless a problem has been identified.
“I can't say we have had a lot of complaints, but we have had some, ” said Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services for the town.
Hyndman explained that while the service fills a need in Cochrane by offering a non-traditional form of short-term accommodations, there are many considerations to take into account, including the impact on the local hotel industry.
With an overhaul of the town's land-use bylaw coming due, Hyndman said the issue of Airbnbs and how to regulate - or not regulate them - will be included in administration's presentation to council later this year.
At present, there are no requirements by the town regarding Airbnbs. A business licence is not required.
Canmore Mayor John Borrowman confirmed his community would be looking to tighten how short-term rentals are regulated through an overhaul of their land use bylaw later this year.
“This is an issue that is creating a lot of work and concern in a lot of tourism-based communities … we are at the beginning of a long road, ” said Borrowman.
He explained that there is a list of problems posed by Airbnb rentals in Canmore - a tourist town with a competitive boutique and big-scale hotel market - including out-of-town investors capitalizing on Airbnb investments and the changing dynamic of neighbourhoods as a result. He added it also puts more pressure on the town's already historical zero per cent vacancy rate, as Borrowman asserts that Airbnb units result in less long-term units on the market and are worsening the affordable housing situation.
Borrowman said most residential districts in Canmore do not allow for short-term rentals and that fines for repeat offenders can reach $5,000.
He added there are residents who have been vocal advocates for their rights as homeowners to provide Airbnb rental units and that this has been a contentious issue.
For Cochranite Sandy Johnson, after four years of being an Airbnb host with her homey Artisan's Roost, all good things come to an end.
“I had stayed at many while travelling myself and I loved the closeness to the people … I never had one negative experience, ” said Johnson, who hosted a lot of young couples and has developed long-lasting friendships.
Johnson is an avid supporter of the local arts and culture scene and was once a cultural programmer for the town. She is now in semi-retirement, working part-time as a teacher's assistant and is a travel enthusiast herself and frequent user of Airbnbs.
She believes “the writing is on the wall ” as far as bureaucracy stepping in and she does not want to be a part of the red tape that is likely in store for something she feels is rooted in community spirit and camaraderie.
Kim Rowe is a Rocky View County resident who lives on an acreage 20 minutes northwest of Cochrane.
For Rowe, Airbnb provided relief last year when her family was in between tenants for the rental suite in their home, so they did not have to go for several months with zero income from their suite.
While her family has since found a tenant, she said she would be open to renting through Airbnb again and is interested to see how the regulation of the short-term rentals will play out in the Cochrane region over time.
“I have mixed feelings on it. I certainly think there's an opportunity for the occasional night here and there … but I can also see the other side and that there should be some minimal safety standards, ” said Rowe, citing safety and parking among concerns she feels are reasonable.
“Some considerations you do need to keep up with to ensure you're being a good neighbour. ”
