Montreal's Short-Term Rental Debate: Housing vs Tourism

0:00It's April 20th, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Canada News today. Your AI-powered local news. Montreal's got a hot debate brewing over short-term rentals and primary homes. Right now, the rules limit those days under 31 days to just summer, from June 10th to September 10th. The current administration wants to switch back to allowing up to 90 days year-round starting this fall, with extra inspectors and tracking tools. To keep it in check, Project Montreal, the official opposition, says that's a bad move because enforcing year-round limits is nearly impossible. They point out host Dodge rules across multiple platforms, turning homes into full-time tourist spots instead of housing. With around 7,000 units at play, they argue there just aren't enough inspectors to catch the cheaters. In the middle of a housing crunch, this hits hard. Advocates push for a total ban to free up units for locals, and folks have already seen less turnover in neighborhood since the summer only rule.

1:00Kicked in last fall. Project Montreal insists rolling it back would waste those gains. Airbnb and Tours-May Montreal are pushing back, warning of room shortages for big events like the Grand Prix, which falls outside summer this year. They want tweaks for a four-season city, but Project Montreal holds firm that unworkable rules do more harm than good. On Monday's City Council meeting, Project Montreal will table a motion to lock in the current by-law, ramp up enforcement, and prioritize housing for. Montrealers over tourist days. The mayor's response drops that night, so we'll see how this shakes out.