As the city struggles with a shortage of affordable rental housing, Toronto City Council’s executive committee has opened up a draft plan to register and license short-term rentals typically offered through Airbnb to public consultation.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Airbnb has tightened the rental market in Toronto, and that some areas, including Kensington Market, have more than 100 Airbnb listings compared to 12 rental listings. The proposed plan would include changing zoning bylaws to include spaces as “short-term rentals”, licensing home-sharing companies like Airbnb, and starting a registry for anyone who operates one of these rentals.

The plan would also require an owner to reside in the space they wish to offer for short-term rent, which is aimed at preventing vacant properties from being bought and used solely as Airbnb spaces.

—Geremy Bordonaro/Annex Gleaner