As short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO become more popular, the thought of legislation to affect their rentals has come to light. From March 1 to March 3, 2024, we surveyed Canadians to find out their opinions and perceptions on short-term rentals and the potential legislation around them.
Some of the key highlights of our survey about short-term rentals include…
- More than half of Canadians (54%) have used short-term rentals at least once during their travels, while 46% have never used them. The 18-34 age group is more likely to use these services frequently.
- Over one-third of Canadians (37%) are aware of the ongoing discussions at various government levels regarding short-term rentals, compared to 58% who are not. Nearly half of Canadians (48%) support the restrictions or legislation enacted by governments to regulate short-term rentals, while 33% are opposed, and 19% are undecided. Canadians who frequently use short-term rentals during their travels (43%) are more likely to oppose such legislation.
- Nearly half of Canadians (48%) are in favor of individuals renting out properties for short-term use even if they do not live there, compared to one-third (32%) who disagree and 20% who are undecided.
- 41% of Canadians would support their neighbors using their homes for short-term rentals. This proportion is higher among Canadians who frequently use short-term rentals during their travels (57%).
- Regarding Canadian perceptions of short-term rentals, two-thirds (63%) believe that with restrictions in place, there will be more opportunities for the traditional lodging industry, such as hotels, motels, and resorts. Nearly half (47%) believe that restrictions around short-term rentals will discourage investment in the rental property market, and 44% believe that such restrictions will help to solve the housing crisis.
Methodology
This web survey was conducted from March 1 to 3, 2024, with 1,523 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,523 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.51 %, 19 times out of 20.