October 16, 2020
Council Item August 19th - #11.2 Regulation of Short Term Rental Housing – City Wide
To The Mayor and Members of City Council
I am writing this as a Ward 2 resident.
There are a couple of points of interest that I would like to address.
Other municipalities have implemented strategies to address housing rentals in their respective areas and Windsor should be moving in the same direction. The above mentioned municipalities are continuing to update their strategies as needed. Windsor should at least start a strategy that would protect all concerned.
A registry and license strategy needs to be put in place. The registry should require proof of compliance to all by laws including building and fire safety. If questions arise as to the safety of the housing unit, inspection must be made mandatory. Failure to supply that information will exclude the issuance of a license to run the establishment.
Once STR`s are addressed, a similar strategy should be put in place for long term housing rentals such as housing that is marketed to students. The conditions that students are forced to live in and the concerns of the neighbours really need to be addressed in a positive and proactive manner. I, myself, am a licensed food operator that is inspected on a regular basis. This protects not only my clients but also myself if anything were to happen, The same can be applied to housing rentals. – both the occupant and the owner are protected. When lives are put in danger because the property owner has no respect for them, that is not acceptable. One life lost due to a fire or other catastrophe is one life too many.
Respectfully submitted by
Mary Ann Cuderman