If you are an owner of a legally zoned tourist accommodation property in the resort of Whistler, then you may be as frustrated as I am that there are many Whistler homeowners who still consider themselves above the local Bylaws and rent out their homes on a nightly basis without the appropriate zoning.

In addition, Hotels, Pensions, B&Bs and Rental Property Management companies are losing out on potential bookings and second homeowners, particularly of condos/townhomes in the resort, are finding it difficult to cover their overheads.  As a result, they have seen huge declines in property values as they are less attractive for investment.  Legally zoned establishments pay for the privilege of having nightly zoning and contribute to both Tourism Whistler and the Municipality.  Whilst guests of these illegal rental homes are bringing income to the resort, the owners are not contributing at all and just suck the system.   It is wrong and unfair and makes a mockery of why the zoning is even in place if the Municipality doesn’t choose to enforce it.  It goes without saying that the question of Insurance and Fire and Safety issues in these homes must surely be of concern to the resort as well? Lets just reflect on the fires recently at Treeline and Tyndall Stone Lodge.  Both these places are legally zoned and have the precautions in place to send out warnings to guests of potential danger.  The question arises as to whether these illegal accommodations do.  Many of them are old cabins.

There are various listing sites that promote these illegal rentals, albeit that they may not realize it.

To cover themselves, these companies have now made it a pre-requisite that all applicant listings are required to sign a confirmation that they comply with the local Bylaws allowing nightly rental accommodation.  This means, that all of these homeowners have potentially provided FALSE declarations. 

A list addresses and information has now been submitted to the Bylaw Department of Whistler exposing 60 offenders (and there are more) in the hope they will do the right thing. 

Most of these places appear not to even charge GST and it raises the question whether the CRA and BC Assessment might be interested to receive this information too……?

Enough is enough.  Both the Municipality of Whistler and the local Tourism office, the powers of Whistler, have dragged their feet too long on this issue. Lets get this rectified - Not next month, in a year or after the winter season but NOW!