City inspecting Grovenor Airbnb financed as affordable housing

The City of Edmonton is inspecting a Grovenor infill property that was financed as affordable housing but is being operated as an Airbnb, following complaints from neighbours and reporting by Postmedia.

A notice posted to the property said compliance officers will be checking what the city believes might be a lodging house. Postmedia visited the address in late June and confirmed guests had booked stays through Airbnb; the company confirmed it has a listing there. The property was financed using a federal Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation incentive meant for affordable rentals — using such properties as short-term rentals violates CMHC rules.

Next-door neighbours Travis and Lisa Watt have been documenting evidence and sending complaints to city officials and Airbnb since discovering the short-term rentals earlier this year. "I feel slightly reassured that the city's going in," Lisa Watt said Thursday. "But from here, we don't know what any of the repercussions are, and I don't love that." She added she's now been able to speak with someone at CMHC about the issue and is waiting for the short-term renters to stop rotating through and the property's upkeep to improve. "I'd like to see real people live there. I'd like to see the house used for the intention it was meant."

Postmedia also found a second property in McKernan financed with a CMHC agreement that appears to be operating as an Airbnb. Mayor Andrew Knack said the city has a responsibility to ensure rental accommodations are not being used as a "de facto hotel," particularly given the city's need for more affordable housing. "Anything that's being built that's not following the rules under the funding agreement should not be allowed," he said.