A large number of Quebecers who have enlisted their properties on Airbnb and other home rental websites are yet to register with the province even after the law regulating it has been passed over a year, according to latest data.
The Tourism Department of the province mentions that it had issued 967 permits for rental hosts out of 2,244 applications in the year ever since this law has taken effect on 5th April, 2016.
In the year 2016, there were as many as 19,400 Airbnb hosts in Quebec as per the data of the company.
However, this does not include the people who generally rent their homes on other websites including Kijiji and VRBO. This suggests a compliance of less than five percent among the hosts of Airbnb. The law is only one of its kind in Canada and it requires people who rent out accommodations for about 31 consecutive days to have a permit and pay a hotel tax.
Individuals violating the law might be fined between $2,500 and $25,000 daily.
On the other hand, corporations can face penalties between $5,000 and $50,000 per day. Alexx Dagg who is the director of Canadian public policy of Airbnb said that the provincial law is very complicated.
The provincial government and Airbnb has been discussing about altering the law.
People who rent accommodations during a particular festival or tourist event are permitted to do that once a year without the need for registering. And, several Airbnb hosts do not require certification since their activities fall within the exemptions of the law as described by a spokesperson of the Tourism Department of Quebec named Jean-Pierre D’Auteuil.
