Short Term Rentals Correspondence - View Royal resident

December 31/2025

To Mayor Tobias and Members of Council,

I am writing as a View Royal homeowner concerned about the municipality’s approach to short-term rentals.

Like many residents, I am thinking ahead about retirement and financial security. The current restrictions make it very difficult for homeowners to use their own property for short-term rentals, even when provincial rules would otherwise allow it. This feels disproportionate and out of step with the broader framework set by the province.

There are also many valid reasons why homeowners may prefer short-term rentals over long-term arrangements that go beyond income. Some homeowners have had difficult experiences with long-term tenants and are concerned about the lack of practical protection when problems arise. Others want to retain flexibility so they can use their home for visiting family or friends, keep space available for aging parents, or respond to changing family needs. In my own case, I have a son with mental illness and maintaining flexibility in how I use my home matters deeply to me. I want to be able to provide a safe place for him should he need it, without being locked into a long-term tenancy, that makes that option very difficult. At times, the current level of restriction feels like an intrusion on basic personal autonomy and security and raises concerns for me about fairness and respect for individual rights as a homeowner.

Short-term accommodation also serves a real and legitimate need in this community. View Royal’s location near the hospital and its central access to Greater Victoria make it well suited for people who need temporary stays, such as visiting health-care workers, people attending medical appointments, short-term workers, and families travelling for weddings or other events. These needs exist year-round.

These same issues have been raised by the BC Real Estate Association in recent advocacy on short-term rental policy. BCREA has noted that targeted exemptions are needed to reflect real-world conditions, including increased tourism demand, pressure on hotel inventories, and the need for temporary accommodation near major healthcare centers. The Association has also highlighted the importance of short-term rentals for the film and television sector, which relies on flexible, short-term housing for transient cast and crew. BCREA has emphasized that carefully defined exemptions can support economic activity and essential services while still maintaining the overall intent of provincial housing policy.

Requiring homeowners to shift exclusively to long-term rentals does not create affordable housing. Any long-term rental would still be priced at market rates, which are already beyond the reach of many. Addressing affordability requires more subsidized and non-market housing, not additional pressure on individual homeowners.

Council has discussed the idea of temporarily allowing short-term rentals during events such as the FIFA World Cup. While it is positive to recognize the need for visitor accommodation, it is difficult to see how a one-time or short-term pause would work in practice. If short-term rentals are not permitted under normal circumstances, very few homeowners would be in a realistic position to offer them a single event window. A clearer and more workable approach would be to allow short-term rentals more generally, with clear guidelines, licensing, and enforcement.

Well-regulated short-term rentals can have limited neighborhood impact. Guests are temporary by nature, issues resolve quickly, and modern platforms include accountability and safeguards. Many residents would be willing to comply with reasonable regulations, but the current level of restriction creates uncertainty and discourages participation.

Taking a more balanced and flexible approach would also position View Royal as a thoughtful and forward-looking community—one that values homeowners, supports essential services, and responds pragmatically to changing needs while still protecting housing stability.

Short-term visitors also support the local economy. Guests shop locally, eat locally, and learn about View Royal and Victoria through local recommendations. This is an opportunity for the community to be welcoming while still being responsible.

I encourage Council to continue its discussions and seek a more balanced approach—one that aligns with provincial intent, respects homeowners, and allows View Royal to adapt thoughtfully while protecting housing needs.

Respectfully,

A View Royal resident