Dear editor:
As a former bed & breakfast operator in town and as a past chair of the NOTL Bed & Breakfast Association (2006 to 2008), I read the article “Arch-i-text: Where is the cap on short-term rentals in NOTL?” (The Lake Report, June 18) with some interest.
Frankly, my reaction to it was to be offended. Here are a few comments to explain why.
When we opened our B&B in 2002, there were three types of short-term accommodation being offered in private homes: one to three bedrooms in hosted B&Bs; four or more bedrooms in hosted country inns; and unhosted accommodation in usually smaller three bedroom houses around town.
There were approximately 330 licences issued by the town in 2003-04, of which about 25 were inactive and about 50 were of the unhosted “cottage” accommodation type.
In season, there was frequently unmet demand for simpler accommodation at prices below those at local hotels.
Those of us on the hosted accommodation side were inspected annually by bylaw enforcement, the fire department and Niagara Regional Health.
We had regulatory and business reasons for keeping our properties in excellent condition all the time.
And we were there all the time, and again for business reasons, were likely more knowledgeable about the town and its attractions than the general public.
Our private dwellings frequently drew higher property assessments than other nearby comparables.
Simply put, the allegations about hollowing out and the loss of neighbours didn’t apply then and doesn’t apply now to hosted short-term rentals.
In the 2003-05 period, the town was laser focused on tightening the regulations for hosted accommodation. They thought that the problem was in that sector.
In 2007-08, the Bed & Breakfast Association briefed then-lord mayor Gary Burroughs and chief administrative officer Lew Holloway for about an hour on our perception that the more relaxed regulatory environment for unhosted short-term rentals was being seen as an invitation by some to move into the unhosted market. It was more lucrative and less regulated.
In my opinion, town councils and town staff then and since that time should be held accountable for where the town is today.
Kenn Moody
NOTL
