The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal that decides land use matters in the province has set aside six days of hearings to consider the City of Toronto’s short-term rental regulations approved by city council more than a year ago. Here are some of the players.

The City of Toronto

A team of city staff will explain and defend the city’s approved short-term rental regulations. They include senior planners Caroline Samuel and Narmadha Rajakumar; Larissa Deneau, manager of policy and research for the department of economic development and culture; and Peter Haristy of investigation services’s specialized enforcement resolution team for municipal licensing and standards.

Fairbnb

A coalition of tenant associations and legal clinics, condo boards, the traditional hotel industry and academics that has been fighting for short-term rental regulation for years. An incorporated non-profit, it has been accused by rental platforms of being funded by the hotel industry. But director Thorben Wieditz says Fairbnb is planning fall fundraisers to help pay for its legal fees at the LPAT.

David Wachsmuth

The assistant professor at McGill University’s school of urban planning is appearing as an expert for Fairbnb Canada. Wachsmuth has done extensive research into the impact of Airbnb on Canada’s housing market. It shows that the majority of Airbnb-generated revenue is going to rental operators letting multiple units and that short-term rentals are taking an alarming number of permanent homes out of Canadian cities.

Peter Thoma

A partner in real estate and planning consultants urbanMetrics, a real estate development and planning consultancy, Thoma will appear at the hearing on behalf of landlords. He says Toronto hasn’t given adequate planning consideration to the lack of adequate hotel accommodation to support economic development. He says the city actually needs Airbnb.

Alexis Leino

A Toronto realtor who is challenging the city’s regulations because he says they would restrict him from using his basement suite as a short-term rental. Renting that part of his house to a long-term tenant would mean that Leino and his partner couldn’t use the space as guest quarters for visiting friends and family. Leino is the only landlord challenging the regulations who is being funded by Airbnb.

Westhaver Boutique Residences

One of seven multi-unit operators with standing at the tribunal, Westhaver rents five properties in the Trinity Bellwoods and Cabbagetown neighbourhoods, according to its website. They range from a one-bedroom basement apartment that lets for $138 a night to a four-bedroom house for $498. Jason Cherniak, a lawyer representing owner Clarence Westhaver, says he thinks it would be difficult for his client to continue to operate the rentals that he has spent money and time to present at a high standard.

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Whitehall Suites, Red Maple Suites, Royal Stays, Livingsuites, IHM Limited and Premium Suites

Multi-unit landlords, who have a combined 90 short-term rentals.