The BC NDP is raising concerns over a new bill introduced by the BC Conservatives that they say could put thousands of long-term renters at risk ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup. The province’s Short Term Rental Accommodations Act currently prohibits standalone short-term rentals in communities above 10,000 residents, allowing them only in a principal residence.
The Conservative bill, introduced by MLA Gavin Dew, would create temporary exemptions to this requirement for major events like the World Cup. Critics say this could encourage landlords to evict long-term tenants in bad faith so they can rent units to tourists at premium rates, undermining recent progress in housing affordability.
Housing Minister Christine Boyle emphasized that the NDP’s policies are already having an impact: rents have fallen about 10 percent over the last two years, and vacancy rates are rising. “This BC Conservative bill threatens renters by incentivizing bad-faith evictions so speculators can cash in on tourist demand,” Boyle said.
The NDP also noted that the Conservatives have promised to repeal short-term rental restrictions entirely, which the government argues would further destabilize the housing market. Boyle stressed that policies should prioritize long-term renters and affordable housing over short-term rental profits, and warned that British Columbians cannot afford to return to policies that drive rents higher.
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