Short Term Rentals

Doug Steele | Jun 14, 2023

In commenting on the Short-Term Rental Story, I send my sympathy to Family Kemp. Sympathy is all they can expect from the Township and the NF News. A Canadian 'sorry'.

Frontenac County has set itself up to benefit from Tourism. It spends $18.08 per $100,000  residential assessment (2023). They would be hypocrites to pass bylaws or zoning restrictions to stop short term rentals.

This rental phenomenon has a number of causes. Urban people with large quantities of cash feel they can preserve its purchasing value by buying rural properties and renting them out to cover the operating costs and benefit from the rising value of the property (lakeshore). Additionally, a third party saw a business opportunity. 

VRBO, AIRBnB and others with their websites provide the link between the tourist and the accommodations. These companies collect the money and pay up when the tourist arrives. Words are the only things that set the standards for the stay. 

Queens students have shown us that words don't matter. Reference September festivities.

The courts are the proper places to deal with disputes with their neighbours. The Township and the businesses in our communities are in a conflict of interest position (note- I rent out our cottage on Silver Lake but will not use a service that collects  the money and leaves me with vacationers who don't understand that they are coming to private property with other private cottages neighbours).

- Doug Steele