The negative perception of STRs
This perception of the impact of STRs also extends to rental prices at 44% negative and 27% somewhat negative.
While the sentiment is strongest among young Canadians, three in five Canadians either support (39%) or somewhat support (23%) restrictions on commercial STRs.
Additionally, Canadians are twice as likely to think rent prices in their neighbourhood would go up (47%) thanks to STRs rather than stay the same (23%), which is a noticeable increase compared to 2018 when Canadians were just as likely to believe they would stay the same (31%) than go up (28%).
The impact on community safety is also seen as negative with two in five Canadians responding that they believe STRs have made communities in Canada less safe (43%) rather than have no impact on safety (34%).
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Start Trading TodayLimiting STRs
There is strong support Canada-wide for limiting commercial short-term rentals with over three in five Canadians who support (39%) or somewhat support (23%) limiting commercial STRs.
Support is also strong among younger Canadians, with nearly two thirds of Canadians aged 18 to 34 (64%) who support or somewhat support limiting commercial STRs.
Finally, local politicians who want increased regulation of STR platforms are more likely to see a positive impact on electoral prospects than a negative one. Canadians say they would be more likely (38%) rather than less likely (15%) to vote for a local politician if they decided that there needs to be more control over online STR platforms.
"In a climate where housing affordability is top of mind for Canadians, short-term rentals are linked to the issues of housing availability and increased rent prices," Nik Nanos, chief data scientist at Nanos Research, said in a statement.
"Canadians want to see more restrictions on commercial short-term rentals."
Survey methodology
This project was commissioned by the Hotel Association of Canada. Nanos conducted a hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,058 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2024.
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