Short Term Rentals
The Greater Toronto Hotel Association believes that STRs are an important part of the accommodations mix, offering visitors diverse lodging options and enabling residents to earn additional income. This contributes to the vibrancy and economic resilience of our communities.
However, STRs have often proliferated beyond their original intent of allowing homeowners to rent out spare rooms. Toronto, for instance, has seen the rise of commercial operators purchasing multiple condo units in the downtown core exclusively for STR purposes.
These ‘ghost hotels’ create a lose-lose situation: they remove potential long-term rental units from the market, driving up rents in an already unaffordable economy, while skirting the regulatory oversight and health & safety standards that apply to legitimate hotels. They often fail to remit accommodations taxes as well.
GTHA advocates for a modern regulatory approach that holds STRs to the same basic standards expected of other accommodations businesses. The City of Toronto has shown leadership with recent bylaw updates that promote fair and responsible short-term rental practices, streamline compliance and enhance public safety, and protect long-term rental housing stock.
