Article content

City politicians want a crackdown on short-term rental properties in London, and that added scrutiny may include Airbnb renters paying tax, a council committee decided Tuesday.

Coun. Anna Hopkins brought forward a motion looking for “regulatory options” governing short-term rentals as complaints are growing about their impact on neighbourhoods, Hopkins told the Community and Protective Services Committee.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Politicians urge crackdown on Airbnbs in London Back to video

“There is no one there to make sure concerns in the neighbourhood are being met,” said Hopkins. “The concern I have is that neighbourhoods are changing as a result of this.”

City council in 2018 passed a motion asking for a report on short-term rentals in London, as well as the possibility of charging the equivalent of the four per cent accommodation tax hotels in London charge guests, with that money going to the city.

However that motion was dropped from a deferred matters list in January, meaning there are no bylaws governing short-term rentals. The committee did hear the city’s finance department is still looking at the tax issue and charging it on Airbnb rentals.