British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 minister of housing says he害羞草研究所檚 shocked and frustrated by an attempt to recruit people to take part in what he calls a fraud to get around new rules about short-term rentals.
Ravi Kahlon shared a screenshot on social media showing a Vancouver-based rental management company offering $500 to people willing to change the address on their driver害羞草研究所檚 licence to match an address it selects, then apply for an Airbnb approval.
That害羞草研究所檚 to skirt new rules coming next year that would allow people to offer short-term accommodation only if it害羞草研究所檚 at their principal residence.
Kahlon says anyone considering the offer needs to understand that the scheme is illegal, and those taking part would find themselves in 害羞草研究所渁 lot of trouble for really no gain.害羞草研究所�
He warns people on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, not to assist the 害羞草研究所渄esperate scammers.害羞草研究所�
The government introduced legislation last month to limit short-term rentals in many cities in B.C. in an effort to put thousands of units back into the long-term rental pool, with the changes coming into effect in May.
The post from the management company has since been removed and the company害羞草研究所檚 website cannot be viewed, but Kahlon said in an interview on Monday that it raises serious concerns.
害羞草研究所淭hat somebody would go out and suggest for $500 that people put themselves on the line for fraud, it simply doesn害羞草研究所檛 make sense,害羞草研究所� said Kahlon.
Although most of the legislation won害羞草研究所檛 be implemented until next year, Kahlon said it害羞草研究所檚 already working, with 害羞草研究所渁 lot more listings going on sale害羞草研究所� and more units going into the long-term rental market.
害羞草研究所淪o, the legislation is already having an impact, a positive impact.害羞草研究所� Kahlon said. 害羞草研究所淚 suspect it害羞草研究所檒l only be more in the new year, when the new principal-residence requirement kicks in.害羞草研究所�
Online platforms will be required to share data with the province, something Kahlon said will help crack down on scammers.
Kahlon said local government and the ministries of housing and finance will enforce the new rules.
害羞草研究所淟ocal governments will have information and the platforms themselves will have the responsibility to make sure any listing that goes on their site has the proper authentication, has the proper licenses from the province and local government,害羞草研究所� said Kahlon.
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