I haven’t had a call from anybody saying they are happy Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East, and Minden Hills are now asking short-term rental owners to voluntarily apply for licences.
I have been contacted by people who are outraged local government has said ‘no’ to their applications, or sent them back for more work.
Rarely do we hear from people who are happy about things. But we do hear from those who are upset.
It’s early days, but I am surprised by how few renters have applied for their licences. The number stood at just 126 as of last week. In Dysart alone, they think there are 400 rental properties. The townships are stepping up the process, issuing more letters, so it’s expected the numbers will climb.
What are we hearing?
Some renters are upset that structures on shore road allowances are holding up their applications. They cannot understand why a shed near the lake is not allowed since they are not renting that shed out. They are being told they have to get rid of it or move it. They can’t do that in winter. In some townships, it means their licence is being held up. In others, they are getting conditionally approved but must move the shed once the snow melts. This part of the bylaws can appear rather punitive and some councils are reconsidering.
But we are also hearing troublesome reports from bylaw across the County. People are submitting reports about septic capacity and it is clear they are renting to far too many people than their septic can handle. This is the very stuff politicians wanted to target when they first envisioned a short-term rental program. It’s these STRs that are putting pressure on our lakes and leading to things such as blue-green algae blooms – a death knell for the Highlands’ most precious asset: our waterways. No bylaw department should turn a blind eye to this, and we do not want them to.
Any new bylaw – remember the shoreline preservation bylaw? – comes with growing pains.
There is no doubt that some things – such as proper septic capacity – are correct in the STR bylaw. The shore road allowance aspect will likely undergo some level of review. Regardless, I think having some rules and regulations in place are better than the wild, wild west of renting that has been going on in Haliburton County – particularly since COVID.
Just as it is time to review the shoreline preservation bylaw now that there is concrete evidence as to how it is working – there will be a time to review the STR bylaw once we have more information. Some say people are getting out of the renting business and it will have devastating effects on our community. We certainly hope not, but we won’t really know until a full season of summer cottage rentals is under our belts.
We cannot scrap it completely without giving it a try.
People have a right to be upset. Others have a right to say we must stay the course. The proof will be in the pudding. Politicians are open to dialogue. After all, we all want to get this right.
