Montreal mayor says new team will crack down on illegal short-term rentals
The City of Montreal says a team of investigators tasked with cracking down on illegal Airbnbs will be in place by June.
A plan was first announced in the days following the Old Montreal fire that left two people dead and five missing.
However, the city says a plan had been in the works since December.
The heritage building that burned down last Thursday contained multiple illegal Airbnb units at the time of the fire, despite short-term rentals being outlawed in Old Montreal.
As of Wednesday, Airbnb displayed several listings in Old Montreal and Verdun, where a similar bylaw applies.
The city says the problem is particularly bad in three Montreal boroughs: Ville Marie, the Plateau and the Southwest.
City investigators will comb through short-term rental sites, resulting in potential fines of up to $2,000 for hosts breaking the rules.
The city also says it will share its information with Revenue Quebec, which could fine hosts up to $25,000.
Tenants rights advocate Arnold Bennett says he is skeptical of the plan because Airbnb is just one of many platforms where units are rented, and the city doesn’t have enough inspectors to enforce the rules.
"We are in a housing crisis," said Bennett. "And we have a lot of apartments that are not for Montrealers. They are for tourists because people make more money with that."
CAUSE OF FIRE STILL UNKNOWN
Authorities are not yet able to say what caused the fire that has left two dead and five more missing, or whether the building was up to code, according to Montreal fire department operations chief Martin Guilbault.
CTV News has reached out to both the property owner and the city to find out when the building was last inspected, but neither responded to questions by deadline.
The site of last week's fire was a heritage building, built in 1890, and served as the headquarters of the Ogilvy flour mill.
Like many buildings in Old Montreal, it has stood through several adaptations to fire safety regulations. Being "up to code" can mean different things depending on the age, location, or use of the building.
That makes for a significant challenge for the city to ensure every building owner follows the rules, said Tony Porowski, president of InterNACHI-Québec AIIICQ, an association of real estate inspectors in Canada.
"At this point, we can safely say it’s understaffed," said Porowski, who is a building inspector.
It’s impossible for the city to know just how many buildings in Montreal are not up to code, he said.
"They’re not equipped with a sufficient number of inspectors to effectively carry out this objective," he said.
Porowski said he hopes governments act quickly to update how they ensure safety across the province.
"It often boils down to dollars and cents," he said.
Quebec Premier François Legault admitted more needs to be done to ensure all buildings are up to code.
"We have to make sure that all our buildings are in good shape, and in the case of a fire, that all the exits are available rapidly," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.