Question 3

Britt Chalmers

I think a continued and increased crack down on vacation rentals without business licenses is the first and most important step.  As well close analysis on zoning and bylaws in regards to vacation rentals.

Chris Heisterman

Buying a home is an investment, so unfortunately the line between resident and investor is blurred. Not just here in Tofino but all over BC and the world. It’s important to me to ensure that we are doing everything we can so that our houses are homes and primary residences more than they are investments. As mentioned in question two, we need to properly zone new developments.

Craig Heber

Council can facilitate properties better serve its residents by allowing In-Fill small house construction on lots that are currently purely residential.

Further a new Council could apply a 21st Century template to new residential projects so that more housing can occur on the same land maximizing the number of Affordable Homes available to residents.

Council can do little to address those properties that rely on short term rental income for the owner to maintain mortgage payments or ROI other than ensure all are operating with a business license and paying Commercial Tax rates.

Dorothy Baert

We have lobbied the province to consider a split classification for homeowners who use their properties for commercial, accommodation enterprise. Resort Municipalities could be considered for the Speculation Tax. There is more to know and assess about whether these initiatives by themselves would help the problem. Creating affordable and price restricted housing should help steady the market. The province has listened to community needs and there are new tools to help address the housing and affordability issues.
Some people are buying homes as investments; some, like my neighbours, bought, held on to their property till they could make the move and have been strong contributors to the community ever since. These aren’t simple situations. Some of the investors who are commodifying housing with multiple home ownership are also residents. Many residents rely on vacation rentals to make home ownership affordable.

Duncan McMaster

I don’t believe Tofino is unique in that properties are seen as an investment. Purchasing a property likely followed by purchase of an automobile is the most significant investment most people will ever make. The global economy with low interest rates and fluctuating stock market has made investments in property more desirable.
What is unique is that Tofino is a desirable place to live and visit. To limit the amount of vacation rentals will be difficult but not impossible, assuming the community was in favour. Some jurisdictions limit the amount of business licenses for vacation rentals, others limit the number of vacation rentals on a street. This has to be a community decision, because many residents rely on vacation rental income to pay their mortgage.

Eric Kingsley

I think that everyone buys a home with the intention of it being an investment. Regardless of us being in a tourist town or not, people buy homes to grow their money and their families. That being said, WE ARE in a tourist town. Homeowners are encouraged to pursue short term rentals because it makes more money. Plain and simple.
There is no one solution here but in my mind, altering the systems at play to encourage homeowners who ARE renting space, to rent those units long term would be a valuable path to explore. Limiting the amount of short term rental business licenses and altering taxation and licenses to make it less appealing would have an effect over time but will not stem the flow. Amending zoning and bylaws will have more immediate effects but still will not stem the flow.
Districts all over BC are currently in debates about this same topic. If elected to council I would reach out to our fellow British Columbians to share our story as well as learn from theirs. There are success stories out there and we could build one here.

Jarmo Venalainen

Not only Tofino, but indeed the world economy has gone through one of the largest transformations ever in the last 5 or so years.  The factors did not all come at once, but they conspired just now. They are :

1. Worldwide person-to-person communication.

2. Ability to easily send money from a person to any other.

3. The means to fly very cheaply and almost instantly.

4. The cellphone/device based platform economy.  

Together with our unique, natural environment this means a lot of visitors and short term accommodation.  The solution is to make all business licences contingent on the licensee providing housing for long term residents.  They can offer a long term room rental, build and operate a rental unit(s) or contribute to a long term housing fund. Specific details to be worked out by our community and implemented through bylaws.

Jason Brown

I touched on this in the previous question, so as I said I believe more diligent and proactive by law enforcement is what is necessary to curb "investors" from driving up the prices of properties so high that hardworking members of the community are unable to live here.

Josie Osborne

Tofino took a very permissive approach in adding short-term rental (STR) as a secondary use to most residential zones in the mid-2000s, which combined with the advent of online booking platforms a decade later has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of STRs (almost 1/3 of single family properties have an STR or B&B). STRs are a double-edged sword. They let homeowners participate in the tourism economy and augment their incomes (helpful for locals trying to enter the market), but they have contributed to rising property prices and property speculation (RE/MAX reported that the median price of recreational property in Tofino more than doubled in 2017). Tofino’s regulations are tightly enforced to help maintain the balance between residential character and economic opportunity, but new regulatory tools should be considered. Nelson BC has capped the number of STR licences across the city as well as within neighborhoods. Cannon Beach OR uses a lottery system for entry into STR. Regardless of the final direction taken, great care needs to be taken to understand the problems, engage and communicate with owners and residents, and make decisions with a full understanding of the law.

Stephanie Hugues

I believe we already have a working solution to this.  It is currently required in Tofino that you need to obtain a business lisence in order to operate a vacation rental.  Limiting the number of business lisences that are granted may be a way of encouraging property owners to open us space for long-term rental.  As a property owner you would be able to generate income from either model.  We could also impose a vacation rental tax (similar to the hotel tax) further encouraging propery owners to rent to long-term local residents.

Stephen Ashton

Firstly, lobby the provincial government so that non-resident voters can’t choose where to vote.  Everyone, regardless of how many properties or homes you own should only vote in the area that they claim principal residence.  Stronger enforcement of nightly rentals must be front and centre.

Tom Stere