For Victoria’s Angela Mason, the introduction of new province-wide rules around short-term rentals is reviving memories of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mason, who purchased a short-term rental in June 2023 and co-owns a business offering host services for short-term rentals , made these comments as new rules restricting short-term vacation rentals to primary residences plus one additional unit on the same property came into effect.Mason expects the changes will have a negative impact on tourism, having already heard from past clients who said they have removed Victoria from their itinerary.
“My entire family’s income will go to zero by time this is all wrapped up,” she said. “This is a business I have poured my blood, sweat and tears into, all of my energy for the past seven years,” she said. “We rode through COVID. In fact, we grew our business model.” Government has justified the new rules with the need to create housing, a point made again Monday by Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.