The American online marketplace Airbnb has likely removed approximately 31,100 units from Canada’s long-term rental markets. This could make it difficult for Canadian cities and provinces to prevent growing housing affordability issues.

In the first comprehensive analysis of Airbnb in Canada, McGill University Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, David Wachsmuth (pictured left), and his team found that Airbnb activity is currently concentrated in major cities. However, they also observed that short-term rental is growing and removing housing from long-term market faster in rural areas and small cities across the country.

The authors argue that cities and provinces will need to intervene on behalf of smaller communities which have fewer resources and less leverage to regulate short-term rental activities.

Here are the key findings of their forthcoming study to be published in the Canadian Journal of Urban Research:

Nearly half of all active Airbnb listings are located in the Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver metropolitan areas

Airbnb listings and revenue are growing about twice as fast in small cities and rural areas as they are in big cities

Housing pressure disproportionately affects cities in British Columbia

The top 10% hosts earn a majority of all revenue in the country

In Montréal, over 30% of all Airbnb revenue is earned by just 1% of its hosts

Almost half of all Airbnb revenue last year was generated by commercial operators who manage multiple listings

31,000 entire homes were rented frequently enough last year that they are unlikely to house a permanent resident

Even though a number of cities are currently studying or have already implemented new regulations, the authors say it is too early to comment on the effectiveness of those regulations. In Québec, for example, short-term rental hosts must register with the province, but as of March 2017, fewer than 5% were certified and thus paying Québec’s provincial accommodations tax.

More information about the paper is available at http://upgo.lab.mcgill.ca/2019/06/20/short-term-rentals-in-canada-paper/

This research was funded by the Canada Research Chairs program.

Photo caption: David Wachsmuth, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at McGill University

Media contact:

David Wachsmuth

School of Urban Planning

McGill University

david.wachsmuth [at] mcgill.ca

Vincent Campbell Allaire

Media Relations Office

McGill University

Vincent.allaire [at] mcgill.ca

514-398-6693