SHORT TERM RENTALS!

THE PETERBOROUGH EXAMINER

Peterborough County townships continue to grapple with short-term cottage rentals - and what to do about their “polarizing” effects on lakeside communities.

“The public consultation process has reiterated that this subject and the proposed licensing program are very polarizing,” states a staff report presented to Trent Lakes council summarizing the results of a November citizens’ survey and public meeting on the topic at its Tuesday regular meeting.

In the public responses, many people think short-term rentals should be outright banned, said the report. Overall, 64% survey respondents felt they should be regulated and 59% supported the township’s proposed licensing program.

The conundrum, shared by a number of county townships with waterfront properties, is how to balance the recent explosive growth in the home-sharing economy - which provides revenue to owners to offset tax, mortgage and maintenance costs - with neighbours’ concerns about disruptive behaviour.

Noise, late-night partying, overcrowded properties, unsafe campfires and fireworks are among the complaints often raised by long-term residents living near short-term rental properties.

Seasonal residents make up 63% of the township and about 74% of residential dwellings are waterfront properties, according to the report.