Rent reduced for riders, early budget items approved by Regina Council
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Regina's city council covered a lot of ground in a three-hour meeting on Wednesday. With all members in attendance, coun...
One of the City of Saskatoon’s Standing Policy Committees will hear more information into licensing for short-term rentals Tuesday.
The Planning, Development, and Community Services committee has been looking into a solution to unlicensed short-term rental properties through apps such as ‘AirBnB.’
In October 2019, there were 610 active short-term rental accommodations available on AirBnB alone.
Alisa Thompson, a Saskatoon business person who has both short-term and traditional properties for rent, will speak to the committee members on the topic.
She said she hopes to explain her side, and answer questions they may have.
“There’s the offset for a potential business upswing. They really fill the need for a niche.”
She said short-term renters could be anyone from students looking to come to University to work on a paper, to newcomers searching for a neighbourhood to be situated in.
“It’s amazing, the amount of people that are using short-term rentals.”
Thompson said she’s used both hotels and short-term rentals. When it comes down to it, it’s all about filling the need, she said.
“The thing that people like about hotels that you don’t get with short-term rentals, is the cleaning— when you go stay at a short-term rental, you’re responsible for cleaning, doing your own bedding, cooking everything.”
There will be no decision made on regulating the properties Tuesday, but they will be gathering additional information at the meeting.
In their information report released Wednesday, they outlined three options the city can pursue.
They include licensing, or giving an exemption for small-scale homestays, and to either licence or prohibit short-term rental properties.