Thousands of B.C. reservations at risk due to short-term rental regulations: Airbnb

Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb says “thousands” of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of being cancelled due to the province’s crackdown on the industry amid a housing crisis.

Alex Howell, Airbnb’s Canadian policy lead, says the rules that require short-term rental hosts to confirm their listings are legal under the changes have already led to some bookings being cancelled.

The government says platforms such as Airbnb can’t post B.C. listings without confirming their registration with the province, but Howell says many hosts whose properties qualify can’t register due to glitches and other problems with the new system.

Howell says instead of waiting until the June 23 deadline — where bookings on unregistered B.C. properties would be cancelled — Airbnb is proactively contacting affected hosts and guests to offer penalty-free cancellations.

The province had said that short-term rentals are being restricted to principal residences, a secondary suite or a structure such as a laneway house on the property, and the policy is meant to open up more units in B.C.’s rental housing market.

The B.C. Ministry of Housing did not immediately provide a response in reaction to Airbnb’s claims.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.

Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press