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What Property Owners Need to Know about the Games Workforce Housing Temporary Commercial Use Permit (TCUP)
Why have a TCUP?
The Temporary Commercial Use Permit (TCUP) will allow nightly rentals
in neighbourhoods where nightly rentals are currently illegal. The TCUP
aims to accommodate Games workforce rentals (VANOC staff, volunteers
and workers), while at the same time ensuring existing tenants are
protected and have secure accommodation. The TCUP allows the RMOW to
issue permits for accommodation rental leading up to and during the
Games for Games workforce accommodation.
How is the RMOW protecting tenant rights?
The RMOW is doing all it can to inform tenants of their rights,
including their rights as relate to the TCUP.
The process for applying
for a temporary commercial use permit (TCUP) includes five safeguards
to ensure tenants are not pushed out of their rentals and that the application is legally allowable:
- Statutory Declaration:
The property owner must provide a statutory declaration certifying they
have not had a tenant for the last 12 months. This statutory
declaration will be compared against a tenant registry where tenants
can document their concerns around potential eviction.
- Tenant Registry:
All tenants are able to sign up for the tenant registry. The registry
is for all those tenants who are concerned they may be evicted as a
result of the Games. To access the tenant registry, renters should send
an email to
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with their name, address, details of
their lease and as many tenancy details as possible, as soon as
possible.
- Background Check: The property owner must not have a history of illegal renting.
- Ensuring the following classes of dwelling are not included in the TCUP application:
a. Rental suites or dwelling units that are subject to a housing
agreement or a restriction to occupancy by employees, dwelling units
that are subject to a residential tenancy agreement.
b. Dwelling units that are subject to a prohibition on tourist
accommodation uses in any restrictive covenant, building scheme or
strata corporation bylaw.
c. Dwelling units that have any outstanding violation of the B.C.
Building Code or the RMOW Building Bylaw.Dwelling units that are
subject to a prohibition on tourist accommodation uses in any
restrictive covenant, building scheme or strata corporation bylaw.
d. Dwelling units that have any outstanding violation of the B.C. Building Code or the RMOW Building Bylaw.
- Title Search:
The application must be accompanied by a title search dated within 30
days of the application date. If the applicant wishes the RMOW may
fulfill this requirement for a fee of $20.
What does the TCUP mean for property owners?
The Temporary Commercial Use Permit (TCUP) will allow property owners,
whose property is not currently zoned Tourist Accommodation (TA) or
Residential Tourist Accommodation (RTA) to offer short-term rental
accommodation to Games workforce.
Application packages are available by clicking here.
The TCUP application can only be made by the property owners, or an authorized agent of the owner. The application must include:
-
A signed statutory declaration endorsed by a commissioner for taking affidavits.
- The statutory declaration confirms that no
tenant has been evicted or refused to renew or extend an existing
residential tenancy agreement in order to have the premises vacant
during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
-
The applicant must also provide evidence that the renters are Games workforce.
Additional information
- Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2009.
- Failure to secure a TCUP and follow the stipulations of the permit will result in fines.
- For more information on Games workforce accommodations please contact
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- For use of the Whistler interactive map, which provides property legal plan number, Zoning and PID Number please visit http://maps.whistler.ca/whistlermap/
If you have questions about the TCUP please email:
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There
have been lots of questions about the Temporary Commercial Use Permit
(TCUP) and how it will impact Games-time accommodations in Whistler.
The comprehensive list of questions and answers below aims to provide
the community with the information they need. If we have missed
important information, please contact us at
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.
What is the purpose of the TCUP?
The purpose of a Temporary Commercial Use Permit (TCUP) is to enable
the municipality to approve temporary accommodation to house Games
workforce in areas where the Zoning Bylaw does not allow temporary
accommodation. Housing Games workforce (media, volunteers, paid staff,
and contractors associated with the Games) in Whistler is a critical
component of hosting extraordinary Games. The TCUP is designed to make
private homes in Whistler neighbourhoods available for rent to Games
workforce, should the owner be interested in renting.
How long will it be in effect?
The Workforce TCUP will expire at the end of the contract for workforce accommodation as will be noted on the permit.
What is the procedure for applying for a TCUP?
A property owner must apply for a TCUP permit by submitting an
application to the RMOW. A $300.00 non-refundable application fee will
be paid at this time. A series of conditions must be met before a
decision is rendered by the General Manager of Policy and Programs. For
accommodation TCUPs, some of these conditions will include:
- Submission of a statutory declaration stating that a tenant is or has not been displaced; and
- The Procedures Bylaw will guide the implementation of the TCUP provisions in the Zoning Bylaw.
- Secure a Games workforce tenant.
Who should property owners contact if they are interested in applying for an accommodation TCUP?
Property
owners can contact VANOC by email (
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) to
receive information about the types of accommodation VANOC is looking
to secure. The property owner should also visit www.whistler.ca and
click on TCUP Application and download the application form. Once
completed, the application can be dropped off at municipal hall or
submitted online to
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.
When is a TCUP required for accommodation?
A TCUP is required by property owners, whose properties are located in
zones that do not permit temporary accommodation and who wish to
provide temporary accommodation for Games workforce.
What will an accommodation TCUP allow?
Currently, any property not zoned for nightly rentals can only legally
be rented to residents. The owners of properties not currently zoned
for temporary accommodation in Whistler will be able to apply for an
accommodation TCUP to rent to Games workforce, primarily required by
VANOC, in most cases for periods of less than 30 days. Currently, any
property not zoned for nightly rentals can only legally be rented to
residents.
Will accommodation TCUPs allow for nightly tourist rentals?
No. Accommodation TCUPs will only permit short-term rentals to Games
workforce. These will be for a specified length of time. Only Tourist
Accommodation zoned properties in Whistler are permitted to provide
nightly tourist rentals.
If my property is zoned for nightly rentals and I am interested in renting it out during the Games, who should I contact?
It is important to point out that VANOC works primarily with property
management companies to streamline the process of securing a large
block of inventory of units and to ensure that the service levels
provided meet the standards of VANOC’s clients.
Unlike private property owners, the role of property managers is to
have well-established processes in place ensuring the service
expectations of guests are met (e.g. changing sheets, delivering keys,
providing check-in/ checkout, 24-hour contact, etc.).
Those property owners who are currently working with a property
management company or an owner-direct service are encouraged to speak
with their service provider to confirm that their units are being made
available for booking in the lead-up to, during and after the Games
period.
Those property owners who are zoned for nightly rentals, who do not
typically rent to visitors via a property manager, and are interested
in renting out during the 2010 Winter Games are encouraged to contact
Judy Ameli, Senior Sales Manager at whistler.com (
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or
604.966.3263). Given the unique nature of the accommodation demand
during Games-time, www.whistler.com will be compiling details regarding
an inventory of single property owners who are zoned for nightly rental
(but do not have a property manager/ owner-direct service provider) to
help determine potential opportunities for their participation in the
accommodation offerings during the Winter Games period.
What kind of enforcement will be in place to ensure people don’t break the zoning bylaws?
It is anticipated that during the Games there will be additional bylaw
enforcement and penalties ranging from fines to lawsuits. The RMOW is
currently developing a business regulation policy which will be
established by 2009.
If accommodation providers do not secure Games-time rentals now, what can they expect?
Past Games experience shows that accommodation providers, who delay
getting involved with the Organizing Committee’s official
accommodations program, are forced to reduce their rates, as these
rooms become surplus inventory. Length of stay drastically shortens as
Games-time approaches and there is a risk having their property sit
empty during the Olympic Games period (February 12 – 28, 2010).
Below are some useful links for those interested in learning more:
Whistler residents, who require information about resident-restricted
housing and rental resources in Whistler, can contact the Whistler
Housing Authority at 604-905-4688 and www.whistlerhousing.ca.
Landlords and tenants, who require more information about their rights
and responsibilities, can contact the Residential Tenancy Office at
1-800-665-8779 or www.rto.gov.bc.ca.
Property owners, who are interested in renting their property during
the Games, can contact VANOC at:
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If your property is Tourist Accommodation (TA) or Residential Tourist
Accommodation (RTA) zoned, you do not require an accommodation TCUP. To
inquire about renting your TA-zoned property, please contact your
property manager/general manager. If you own a property that is zoned
for nightly rental, but is not represented by a property manager,
contact: Judy Ameli, Senior Sales Manager, www.whistler.com at
604-966-3262 or
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. If you are interested in renting
your property to VANOC for their Games-time workforce, please register
your interest at
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For more information please email
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