Canadians are concerned about Airbnb's impact on their communities 

Most Canadians think the platform has a negative impact on their neighbourhood quality of life

The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), released the results of a study, conducted by Nanos Research, highlighting that Canadians from coast to coast have serious reservations about the impact of short-term rentals, like Airbnb, on their communities.

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Canadians clearly disagree with the notion that Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms help create vibrant communities. In fact, only 1% think that platforms like Airbnb have a positive impact on the quality of life in their communities. One in two Canadians would personally feel less safe if short-term rentals are located in their neighbourhood. 

Overall, more than 60% of Canadians are concerned or somewhat concerned about a neighbouring home being regularly rented out through an online short-term rental platform like Airbnb. This concern is shared across the country, with the highest levels coming from respondents in Ontario (69%) and British Columbia (65%). This is driven primarily by the unfavourable impacts on neighbourhood quality of life and on personal safety. Interestingly, these concerns were shared across age groups, including among millennials. Fifty percent of respondents aged 18-34 personally felt less safe because of short-term rentals in their neighbourhood.

These results demonstrate Canadians’ clear preference for tangible limits on the amount of time that neighbouring homes and condos can be rented out through platforms like Airbnb. Nearly one quarter of all Canadians think that homes should never be able to be rented out through platforms like Airbnb, and half think that they should be rented for no more than 30 days per year. People want to know who their neighbours are on a nightly basis.

Airbnb and similar online short-term rental platforms have an impact beyond the host that rents out a property and the person that stays there. It’s important that regulators and elected representatives consider the effect that these platforms have on the community and its members as they move forward to consider regulations. Canadians have a right to feel safe and comfortable in their neighbourhood, and that should be a priority for governments.