Company defends right to rent condos on Airbnb

Amidst calls for government regulation ofshort-term rentals, some condo owners are considering legal options to protect their ability to keephosting through sites like Airbnb.

• Condo owners call on city to rein in Airbnb

H&P Properties helps owners find guests for their homeand co-foudner LisaMarion said she's seen condo boards use "pretty nasty tactics" to prevent people from hosting, including hiring a private firm to monitor short-term rental sites.

"We have some [owners]who arelawyeredup and ready to fight for their right to host."- Lisa Marion, H&P Properties

And while in one case, Marion said she helped an owner find a long-term tenant instead, she said she has other clients who looking how they canprotect themselves from"vindictive" condo boards. The regulations vary depending upon the building, with some allowing the practice while others ban it.

"We have some who arelawyeredup and ready to fight for their right to host."

A few bad apples

Marion says her clients and their guests are getting a bad rap because of a few bad apples.

"For every horror story you hear about, there's got to be thousands of other positive stories," she said.

And while shesaid she understands the concerns of those who feel their home is becoming more like a hotel, she said condodwellers should know that's a lifestyle they're buying into.

"Most of the condos nowadays are these huge ...buildings like the ones in Liberty Village," she said. "You don't know your neighbours, there's already high traffic and a huge amount of turnover in a lot of buildings like that."

'I thought it was just going to be a condo'

But Studio on Richmond residentMaya Ismailsays she didn't sign up to live in a hotel.

"I thought it was just going to be a condo," saidIsmail, after moving into her home in the downtown core. She said the number of short-term renters clog up the hallways and stretch out the wait for the elevators.

"It's already busy enough and now they're adding that to it," shesaid. "It's just not fun for the residents that live there."