Île-Bizard residents fined for short-term rental violations

Residents of Île-Bizard are upset after receiving large fines for attempting to rent out their homes during the Presidents Cup last year. Patricia McIntyre was surprised when a bailiff delivered a notice informing her that she and her husband faced fines of $3,750 each for breaking Quebec's short-term rental laws. McIntyre never actually rented her home. She only posted her property on a rental website recommended by the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) in anticipation of the event. She later learned that she needed a tourism registration number, or CITQ, and that not displaying it could lead to fines. She found it shocking that simply listing her home could result in such severe penalties. Other homeowners in the area have faced similar consequences. Aisha Lasarni, who paid to list her home, received a notice for $7,500 after she did not rent her property. She expressed her disbelief and highlighted that some residents, like her, aren’t accustomed to renting homes. Both McIntyre and Lasarni received extensive case files from Revenue Québec that included details about their online listings. They feel that the investigation was invasive and misplaced, focusing on homeowners in their quiet area instead of addressing issues in busier parts of Montreal. Revenue Québec stated that fines for violating the Tourist Accommodation Act can range significantly, but the homeowners argue they should have been warned instead of penalized. Borough Mayor Doug Hurley acknowledged the situation but did not comment further. The homeowners believe that local authorities could have better informed them about the legal requirements before the fines were issued. McIntyre urged others who may have listed their homes without proper registration to come forward and join their efforts.