Airbnb Calls Montréal’s Short-Term Rental Restrictions Extreme and Harmful to Tourism
The media is covering Airbnb’s position as most news reports tend to highlight arguments against short-term rentals.
Airbnb has criticized Montréal’s new rules, which restrict short-term rentals to the period between June 10 and September 10. The company argues that these measures are extreme and detrimental to the local economy, warning that their impact on the long-term rental market may be negligible—similar to what happened after New York imposed strict Airbnb restrictions.
According to a recent study, one year after New York’s restrictive policies came into effect, the housing crisis did not improve, while accommodation prices increased for travelers (read the full study). In Montréal, Airbnb warns that the new legislation could lead to a similar outcome, offering no real benefits to the local economy.
"This poorly planned proposal would drive up hotel prices, make travel more expensive for the nearly 140,000 tourists who used the platform last year, and weaken the city’s ability to attract visitors for major events," said Alex Howell, Airbnb’s spokesperson.
The regulations also include fines of up to $2,000 per violation and require a $300 license fee. The city administration defends the measure as an effort to ensure affordable housing, but critics argue that short-term rentals make up only a small portion of the market and do not significantly impact long-term rental prices. Additionally, they lament that the sector is being penalized due to a lack of planning for the development of affordable housing.