April 15, 2025

On behalf of the Short-Term Rental Hosts at 311 Hargrave “Glasshouse”, Winnipeg

We are aware of recent complaints and discussions regarding short-term rentals at our building and understand the Winnipeg media has received inquiries related to proposed restrictions. As representatives of the licensed short-term rental community here, we want to provide clarity and speak directly to the broader public narrative.

First and foremost, all short-term rental operators in the building are fully compliant with the City of Winnipeg’s updated regulations, which include licensing, safety protocols, and tax remittances. These regulations were created by the City to promote responsible hosting and fair participation and we’ve followed them.

Unfortunately, some of the complaints being used to push for a ban are factually incorrect or misleading. For example, a complaint submitted to the City involved someone “spitting off a balcony” , yet the unit in question was not even being used as a short-term rental at the time. This type of misinformation unfairly tarnishes responsible operators and shifts the blame for isolated incidents. Many examples of small complaints misdirected. 

It’s important to remember that this building was originally designed with rentals in mind , the intent from the start was to allow owners to generate recurring revenue through both long-term and short-term rentals. Many owners live next to long-term renters or even renters from corporate leases. Yet there seems to be a targeted effort to eliminate only short-term rentals, despite full regulatory compliance.

We’re also seeing tensions emerge as many residents are first-time condo owners who may not fully understand the mixed-use nature of condominium living. Some are now trying to reshape the ownership profile of the building by attempting to exclude certain rentals altogether , advocating for a selective, exclusionary version of ownership that was never the foundation of this development.

Moreover, the behavior of the current condo board raises serious questions around conflicts of interest and double standards:

  • Certain board members pushing for a ban do not meet the City’s own licensing criteria who were renting short term prior. Now in retaliation they are attempting to block compliant operators. Krystyn Cole a board member also quoted in the media, has now voted to ban all short rentals in the building when just a few months prior to the city's regulations was in favor. 

  • Some board members maintain commercial relationships or are employed with the original builder, who continues to sell units in the building. There’s a financial incentive to ban rentals in order to make units more marketable to a narrow buyer pool as now new purchased units may not be able to be rented short term.

  • The board president himself hosts guests through a couch-surfing platform, and there have been repeated reports of visitors waiting in the hallways for access. These stays are not-for-profit, but the safety and disruption risks are the same , yet he criticizes only for-profit hosting. This is a clear and troubling double standard. Sinan Leylak Couchsurfing (Sinan Leylak against short term rentals in the media with almost a 10y history of complaints against STRs and mismanagement as condo board president) 

Short-term rentals are not the threat. In fact, they’ve brought thousands of tourism dollars into downtown Winnipeg supporting local businesses, enhancing neighborhood vibrancy, and even encouraging new residents to move here after discovering the city through these unique stays.

We believe in a revitalized and inclusive downtown , one where responsible short-term rentals coexist with long-term residents, and where the rules are applied fairly, not selectively. We welcome open dialogue, but it must be based on facts, not fear or favoritism.

Representative, Short-Term Rental Community