Île-Bizard residents shocked by hefty fines for trying to rent out homes during Presidents Cup
Patricia McIntyre was looking forward to celebrating the new year with loved ones in her home on Île-Bizard when she received an unexpected visit from a bailiff. To her surprise, she was handed two envelopes containing documents from Revenue Québec, detailing how she and her husband had violated the province’s short-term rental rules and were now facing fines of $3,750 each.
Although McIntyre never actually rented out her home, she had decided to post it online in anticipation of the Presidents Cup held at the Royal Montreal Golf Club last September. With the expectation of large crowds and closed streets, she saw an opportunity to offer her home for rent. However, she did not have a tourism registration number, or CITQ, and the rental website she used, Rent Like A Champion, did not warn her about potential legal implications.
A similar story unfolded for Aisha Lasarni, who also posted her home on a rental website in hopes of avoiding the crowds during the golf tournament. Like McIntyre, she was unaware of the provincial regulations and was shocked to receive fines totaling $7,500 from Revenue Québec.
Both women feel that the government’s actions are unfair and unjust, considering that they did not actually rent out their homes. They argue that Île-Bizard is not a typical tourist destination and that more empathy could have been shown in enforcing the rules.
Revenue Québec defends its actions, stating that fines for violating the Tourist Accommodation Act range from $500 to $50,000, with penalties for failing to display a registration number on a listing. The agency emphasizes that the rules are clearly outlined on their website, and ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
McIntyre and Lasarni believe that the borough of Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève and the City of Montreal could have done more to inform residents about the regulations. They feel that a simple warning could have prevented the situation from escalating to fines and legal action.
Despite the challenges they are facing, both women are determined to raise awareness and support other homeowners who may have unknowingly violated the short-term rental rules. They urge those in similar situations to come together and advocate for fair treatment from the government.
As the controversy surrounding short-term rentals in Île-Bizard continues to unfold, it is clear that a lack of communication and understanding has led to unintended consequences for homeowners. Moving forward, it is essential for all parties involved to work towards finding a fair and equitable solution to prevent similar situations from arising in the future.
