A recent court ruling reported in the Toronto Star has significant implications for short-term rental operators in Canada, clarifying that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can impose taxes on properties consistently rented out through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. Real estate lawyer John Zinati warns that homeowners could face hefty taxes upon selling their properties—potentially tens of thousands of dollars.
The case involved an Ottawa condo owner who switched from long-term to short-term rentals and later sold his unit without paying HST. However, the CRA determined that the property had transitioned to commercial use, making it taxable upon sale. The court upheld this assessment, emphasizing that properties leased consistently for short-term periods resemble commercial operations, akin to hotels.
Zinati notes that sporadic weekend rentals won’t trigger this tax, but consistent short-term leasing—like the 14 months in this case—will. This ruling serves as an important reminder for homeowners to understand the tax implications of their rental practices, particularly as the CRA increasingly focuses on real estate taxation.
Experts like Dale Barrett advise property owners to be aware of a 90% rental threshold, which could dictate tax obligations upon sale. This threshold remains somewhat undefined, but Barrett emphasizes the need for homeowners to consult legal experts before engaging in short-term rentals or selling their properties.
Today, the Bank of Canada announced a reduction in its target overnight rate to 3¾%, with the intention of stimulating economic growth while keeping inflation close to its 2% target. This move could have significant implications for the Canadian real estate market.
With interest rates declining, borrowing costs for mortgages are likely to decrease, making home purchases more affordable for many Canadians. This could potentially revive demand in a market that has faced challenges due to higher borrowing costs over the past year. As the Bank projects GDP growth to gradually strengthen, a boost in consumer confidence could lead to increased home sales and renewed interest in residential investments.
The Bank’s forecast for rising residential investment growth, driven by strong housing demand and an uptick in renovation spending, may further energize the real estate sector. Areas with robust job growth, particularly in urban centres, might see a spike in property values as buyers look to capitalize on favourable lending conditions.
However, potential upward pressure from shelter costs remains a concern. While inflation in housing has begun to ease, it could rebound if demand outpaces supply, especially in cities where inventory is limited. Additionally, with the economy still facing soft labour market conditions, the recovery may be uneven, affecting different regions and demographics.
Overall, if the trend of declining interest rates continues, we could witness a revitalization in the Canadian real estate market, characterized by increased sales activity and possibly rising home prices in sought-after areas. As the Bank of Canada navigates future economic conditions, stakeholders will be keenly watching how these changes impact housing dynamics in the coming months.
Recently I have had the opportunity to partner and work alongside Aerecura; a family owned business that builds rammed earth homes, and here is what we did, and what I have learned.
In late January, we held an open house at the Salmon Point Road build, or as the home owner calls it the “Mud Hut”, and enjoyed an afternoon filled with talks on what rammed earth homes are in their makeup, alternatives to the standard method of home building, and a personal story of what its like living in a rammed earth home. Many attended, and it was quite the hit.
People from London, Sarnia, Ottawa and Toronto were eager to learn, and bring their learning’s back to their current projects and future planning. To see so many interested was a testament to the curiosity this type of building brings, and were very happy with the results. I was there to foster questions on land purchasing, as that’s really the first step. Securing a plot of land that is a. zoned for building residential, and b. a lot that will be suitable for this type of structure ie. flooding, sloping, drainage considerations is really where you need to start.
Before we go any further lets talk about how this all started. Well ” It began with an idea: Build the most sustainable home, ever.” says Syliva the founder of Aerecura. In 2009, Sylvia and her son Graham, along with a small crew of eager builders, worked and brought to life the first of their builds, an insulated rammed earth wall in Ontario,
the first rammed earth wall of Sylvia’s home, and the rest is well history.
So what is Rammed Earth? To explain it, its better to use their words; “Rammed earth is a natural wall building material, created by compressing a mix of gravel, sand, and a binder into a form. The act of compression does in a few moments what gravity does over thousands of years: create rock. This technique - coupled with modern engineering and building science incorporating rebar and insulation - makes rammed earth structural, airtight, and heavily insulated enough to exceed Ontario’s building code, and succeed through our winters.”
If you want to learn more about what this company is doing to build sustainable living in Prince Edward County and Surrounding area make sure to reach out!
