Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
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Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
1–10 of 55 posts
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#2Considering the outrageous prices charged by motels in every city I've been (up to Chicoutimi) and even by road side motels near nowhere, I'm not surprised :-/
>Business groups like Montreal’s Bed and Breakfast Association have been pushing for the government to crackdown on home rentals for years.
Yeah. I sure wonder why.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#3Considering the outrageous prices charged by motels in every city I've been (up to Chicoutimi) and even by road side motels near nowhere, I'm not surprised :-/ >Business groups like Montreal’s Bed and Breakfast Association have been pushing for the government to crackdown on home rentals for years. Yeah. I sure wonder why.
The establishment hotels/motels want protection from competition, which governments are often only too happy to provide, sure. But don't forget the taxes that Quebec no doubt hungers to collect, whether the $250 permit fee, or unreported income. For all parties involved, follow the money.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#4I'm feeling some hyperbole coming on, but governments rarely seem interested in serving the interests of their constituents.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#5Competitive disruption considered harmful.
If it really was to protect the turism economy and the people of Quebec, they should evaluate how many more people can visit Quebec now that there are options like $25-40/night rooms.
I know AirBnB was a big reason I visited NYC since it made the trip significantly more affordable.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#6If you're using your house as a commercial establishment (short term rentals) you are paying commercial taxes on it, there is no reason why you should somehow be exempt when others are not.
It's not just a fine, if you using your house as a commercial space when you go to sell your house it will be taxed on sale just like any other commercial entity. I'm surprised other regions are not more adamant about enforcing this.
ps. This is not about Airbnb, they crack down on any listings no matter what the site (tripadvisor, homeaway, vrbo, craigslist, etc).
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#7You shouldn't blame the Government for enforcing its laws.
I would like for competition to be more open than it is, but I pay my taxes and would like others to do so too.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#8I'm feeling some hyperbole coming on, but governments rarely seem interested in serving the interests of their constituents.
In quebec's case, especially Montreal, renters have all the power. It is fairly trivial to rent a place and never pay rent, and have laws essentially guarantee it take a not insubstantial amount of time to get you removed. So no, in this case, the government ones so much for its citizens that I'm actually surprised thy are siding against airbnb here. Considering everything else they can get away with.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#9Disruption is great. Disruption means doing something else is doing, but much better.
AirBNB -- in this context -- isn't being disruptive to the hotel industry. They're doing the same thing, but _worse_. Where legal hotels have consumer protections (like definitely not having lead paint and definitely sufficient fire escapes), AirBNB... doesn't. Where hotels (and B&Bs, etc.) follow zoning rules to make sure they're good neighbors, AirBNB... doesn't.
Now, these rules don't work all the time. They probably can be improved. But don't act like they're merely regulatory capture. That's an aspect, but consumer protections are real. AirBNB isn't doing the same thing better, but doing a different thing worse.
Re: Quebec Cracks Down on Airbnb
#10Disruption is great. Disruption means doing something else is doing, but much better. AirBNB -- in this context -- isn't being disruptive to the hotel industry. They're doing the same thing, but _worse_. Where legal hotels have consumer protections (like definitely not having lead paint and definitely sufficient fire escapes), AirBNB... doesn't. Where hotels (and B&Bs, etc.) follow zoning rules to make sure they're g…
Cry me a river. There are much more comprehensive reviews on Airbnb than you'll get for most hotels.
This is regulatory capture under the guise of consumer protection; nothing more.