New changes coming for those who make income through short-term rentals

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — If you’re one of the many people that use Airbnb to rent out your home, apartment, or condo, get ready for some changes.

The changes come after councillors were given proposals for new regulations on short-term rental units back in September.

The changes mean hosts must have a license which will cost them up to $276.

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The rental property also must have a window in every bedroom, no more than two people can rent one room, there has to be a record kept of every person who rents from them, and there can’t be more than one booking per dwelling.

“The City has decided to put in place a registration system for hosts,” Deputy Director of Airbnb Canada Nathan Rotman said. “What this does is really encourages responsible home-sharing.”

Rotman says, for the most part, all these modifications, including the new registration changes, are good.

“There’s a few administrative things that we’d like to be changed and we will continue to speak to the city about, but (registration rules) is the predominant change that will impact our community,” Rotman said.

RELATED: Calgary looks for business license for Airbnb users

Many of these changes won’t cause too much of a stir for those already renting on sites like Airbnb, but failure to comply with the new rules will cost you.

Fines of $1,000 will be handed out to those who don’t adjust to the changes.

All of the changes come into effect Feb. 1.