Jump in short-term rentals transforming cleaning industry, say P.E.I. businesses

Some P.E.I. cleaning companies say the sharprise in the number of short-term rentals on the Islandis changing the way they do businessand forcing them to turn potential clientsaway.

April Clow, the owner of Sparkle & Shine Cleaning, saidher business has grown by 25 per centin just the past year all the result of property owners signing on to have their vacation rentals cleaned and prepared for guests.

From May throughOctober, she saidthose clients make up three-quarters of her business.

"One led to two, led to five.And now we've got over 50 [short-term rental clients]," said Clow."And I do have to turn people away unfortunately.In the last two weeks, we've had to turn away 14 people."

More cleaners wanted

It's the same storyat Grime Stoppers, another cleaning company in the Charlottetown area.

Manager Keshia Clarke said over the past year,the company's gone from having five short-term rental clients to 15.That's about 60 per cent of their business during the tourismseason.

"Almost every day, we're getting three to five inquiries each day, which is really difficult to stay on top of," said Clarke.

"We've had to move things around, move our regular clients to different days to fit new people in.But we've had to turn some people away."

Both cleaning companies saidthey've put out the call for more qualified cleanersso they can take on more business.

Airbnb, you kind of have to make it look more likehotel-type quality, look brand spanking new.Keshia Clarke, Grime Stoppers

But there just doesn't seem to be enough to go around.

Clarke saidtaking on moreshort-term rental units without more staff, just isn't an option.

"Airbnb, you kind of have to make it look more likehotel-type quality, look brand spanking new," she said."You don't want anything that a guest is going to complain about."

"Some properties require more becausethe [owners]aren't on P.E.I.," saidClow."So we offer other services shopping and stocking [the unit]so it's equipped for the guests when they arrive."

'If I needed to rent somewhere, I'd have nowhere to live'

Clarke says while the growing number of short-term rentals has been great for business, her company is being careful not to cut out its regularresidential clients.

Particularly in Charlottetown with the city exploring how to regulate short-term rentals, and minimize theirimpact on the the availability of long-term housing Clarke said she isn'tcertain Airbnbwill keep driving her business.

She saidthat's just fine by her.

"It's so sad the amount of people that need somewhere to live. And I'm here, and I've got 15 Airbnbs I'm doing in the run of a month, and I'm making good money.But at the end of the day, if I needed to rent somewhere, I'd have nowhere to live."

Charlottetown is in the process of collecting public feedback on short-term rentals through an online survey.A new bylaw is expected in the fall.

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