AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Interesting piece from Toronto Life on cottage country angst over short term rentals:
AoD
AoD
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Cottage Country Angst
- Thread starter AlvinofDiaspar
- Start date
lenaitch
Senior Member
We lived in Oro-Medonte for about 10 years then Tiny for another 20+. The angst is real. A lot of the Tiny Beaches area is very old with small, jumbled lots. Many of the original cottages have been replaced with newer structures but they are still check-to-jowl so any disruptive behavior is literally right in your face. Our last place was a 'rural estate' subdivision (1-2+ acre lots), not on the water, and one place down the road was flipped into a short-term rental and, as the article said, cars, noise, fireworks pretty much every weekend.
Much of this grows from people treating a house or cottage as a source of income rather than a place to live. 'Calvin' wanted a place to spend with his family but it came at the cost of a $6000/month mortgage. Quite the investor.
Part of the enforcement problem is most bylaws aren't worth the paper they are written on, and enforcement personnel, for all of their best intentions, are sufficiently trained or supported. If you have a noise complaint at 1am, good luck contacting anyone.
Thankfully, we didn't live on the water so weren't directly impacted by the problem except for that one house. I lived in Muskoka for five years and there is very much an 'old money vs new money' divide. The old money often had its head up its collective ass but at least they respected the place. As for Horseshoe Valley, that place is like a US gated community without the gates.
afransen
Senior Member
To be honest, most of these rentals are more suitable for weekly rentals by families. They should not be used as party venues. I can see where local residents are coming from. That said, a weekly rental of a cottage is one of the more affordable vacation options for a family, and it would be a shame to make it harder to access with onerous rules around rentals. Short term rentals (like 1-2 nights or weekends) are difficult to manage. Even if 90% of the renters are respectful, the remaining people who act like idiots can make life unbearable for neighbours. Enforcement is tricky, and guest ratings can only help so much with the diffusion of rental sites.
gabe
Senior Member
I have family members who had a cottage for over 30 years at Sauble Beach. They are so sick of of the crap that goes on up there. because of these party cottages. The noise, the crowds the traffic is one thing, but too many people are pooping on the beach and party goers leave all their trash behind. The place looks like a third world country on long weekends thanks to the GTA trash that comes to party. To quote Doug Ford. "Folks, don't be pooping on the beach."
https://www.blogto.com/travel/2024/07/ontario-wasaga-beach-visitors-pooping-sand/
I spent last year's Canada day weekend in Parksville BC on Vancouver island, Parksville is paradise. Even though it was Canada day and the town was packed with crowds on the beach, everyone was so quiet, respectful and friendly. No trash left behind, no cars with noisy mufflers all hours of the night. No one pooping on the beach. I could spend every summer in Parksville. It's my kind of town.
lenaitch
Senior Member
Is Sauble (apparently it's 'Saugeen Beach now) impacted much by short-term rentals or is it mostly daytrippers? That has been a historic problem with places like Sauble, Grand Bend and even Wasaga. Most of those places now ban enclosed cabanas or gazebos on the beach for the reasons you have stated.
afransen
Senior Member
All the day-trip beaches are a disaster. I avoid like the plague. People have no idea how to behave in public.