Airbnb launches 'last-ditch effort' to rally Ottawa hosts

Airbnbhas been rallyingits Ottawa hosts to turn up the heat on city councillorsvoting Wednesday on a new bylaw restricting short-term rentals.

In an email headed "Protect short-term rentals in Ottawa," Airbnbasks its hosts to send a pre-written letter to councillorsand the mayor urging them to "go back to the drawing board and bring forward a proposal that reflects a smart and forward-thinking approach to regulating home-sharing."

"We encourage city councillors to listen to the concerns raised by their local community and ask city staff to revise their report," Airbnb's Alexandra Daggadded in an email to CBC.

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Earlier this month, dozens of Airbnb hosts attended a meeting at city hallto try to convince members of the city's community and protective services committee to ditch new regulations recommended by city staff, but thecommittee ultimately voted 5-3 in support of the bylaw.

On Wednesday, those rules go before council for a final vote.

A city-wide issue

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleurysaid he's received the missivefrom hosts.

"This feels like a last-ditch effort by some to reaffirm their objections to the report," said Fleury, who supports the idea of apermit system restricting short-term rentals to primary homes and rural vacation properties.

Three councillorsvoted against the regulations at committee:Matt Luloff, Stephen Blais and Eli El-Chantiry, all representing suburban or rural wards.

Fleurynoted councillors representing the urban core, which has the highest concentration of short-term rentals, supportthe recommendations.

He's urging his colleagues to think of it as a city-wide issue.

"It might not affect every community in the same way, but that's why we're asking them to wear theircity council hat, not simply consider their own neighbourhood," Fleury said.

Not all hosts showing support

Not everyone who received the Airbnb email will be joining in the plea.

Jason Yungreceived the email this week and decided to flip the message around, changingthe subject line to"FULLY SUPPORT proposed regulations to RESTRICT AIRBNB in Ottawa."

Yung, who owns a condo in the ByWard Market, said atenant converted his unit into a "ghost hotel."

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Yungsaid Airbnbrefused to intervene when it was clear the tenantwas advertising on the site without his permission, and despite restrictions in the lease and condo rules.

"Unfortunately, as an online platform, Airbnb is not privy to the offline agreements you may have made, so we are unable to mediate or assist," the company told Yung.

Yung welcomes the new regulations, and said he hopes they'll be adequately enforced when either hosts or rentersbreak the rules.