Montreal cracking down on lock boxes affixed to public property

Montreal's city workers have been instructed to saw off any lock boxes affixed to city property such asbicycle stands or parking meters, in an effort to discourage unauthorized short-term rentals like Airbnb.

A lock box is a small container that often contains keys, and requires a four- or six-digit code to access.

Plateau-Mont-Royal Coun.Alex Norris says that there are thousands of short-term rentals that violate Montreal's bylawabout where they can operate in the city.

He says these unauthorized operatorssometimes leave lock boxes with the keys inside affixed topublic property, to throw off city inspectors.

"It makes it harder to associate thelock boxwith an individual address," Norrissaid.

The city took steps last summer to reduce the number of tourist rental properties downtown, restricting rentals associated with online services such as Airbnb to buildings alongSte-Catherine Street, roughly between Guy Street and Amherst Street.

Within this limited area downtown, rentals are not allowed within150 metres of each other.

Norris says the influx of Airbnband other services like it lead to a "loss of affordable housing units in central neighbourhoods" and inconvenience to neighbours.

"We estimate that thousands of rental units have been withdrawn from the market." he said.

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plantetweeted as much Monday, adding several people had shared pictures they had taken of lock boxes in their neighbourhoods.

Plantesaid the administration is in favour of "sharing" dwellings, but that thistype of rental goes against provincial laws. In following tweets, she, too, said Airbnb-typeshort-term rentalstake away from much needed housing in the city's tight rentalmarket.

The city already has a policy that directs its workers to cut anything unofficial off public property.

"It's illegal to attach lock boxes, or anything, to public property," Norrissaid."We already regularly remove rusty old bikesand other types of locks that are left on parking meters."

Norris says residents can report the presence of a lock box in order to have it removed by calling 311.