Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon are set to give an update Thursday morning on short-term rentals in B.C.
The update comes as new rules surrounding how many and what kinds of short-term rentals are allowed around the province come into effect on May 1.
The BC NDP tabled new legislation in October of last year which, once in effect, aims to return short-term rentals to the long-term rental market.
As of May 1, the province is requiring short-term rental platforms, like Airbnb and VRBO, to share data, and to remove listings without business licenses and registration numbers “quickly.”
It is also limiting short-term rentals to principal residents of the property only — plus one additional unit or suite on that property — for municipalities with more than 10,000 people. Municipalities with less than 10,000 people, or those designated as resort municipalities, will be able to opt-in to the legislation.
The province says through regulations, the fines for hosts breaking municipal by-law rules will increase to $3,000 from $1,000, per infraction, per day.
Eby and Kahlon will be speaking to media in Langley, with the news conference slate to begin at 11 a.m.
You can watch CityNews 24/7 live or listen live to CityNews 1130 to keep up to date with this story. You can also subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.