Overview

• Rohana Rezel, an affordable housing advocate, has pursued access to short-term rental operator data in Vancouver since 2019 under freedom of information laws.
• The City of Vancouver and Airbnb opposed the release, citing privacy concerns and arguing that hosts should be notified before data disclosure.
• In a recent ruling, an adjudicator determined that notifying 20,000 short-term rental operators would be inefficient and is not required under the law.
• The decision clears the way for the release of business licence numbers and addresses, though Rezel acknowledges the data may now be outdated.
• The case highlights broader tensions between public transparency in housing policy and individual privacy rights for short-term rental operators.