Neighbours are hoping a decision to reject a short-term rental on East Barriere Lake will be precedent-setting.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District board unanimously rejected an application for a temporary use permit from property owners on the lake, which would’ve permitted short-term rentals for three years. The property had been listed on Airbnb earlier this year for nearly $400 a night.

Neighbour Al Hartl was one of about two dozen at the board meeting when the proposal was rejected, who spoke to directors about concerns.

“Renting it through the internet is a challenge, because you can’t vet the people on the internet. The person who actually contacts you may be great, the other 30 people who show up, you have no idea who they are. So there’s all kinds of issues like that.”

Hartl says there were a number of issues, including the risk of fires.

“Barriere had a huge fire in 2003, part of the town burnt. So we’re very concerned about fire. Short-term renters, they’re not nearly as concerned as owners. Owners have a stake in the property. We know how to manage our fires. But it’s not only campfires, it’s cigarettes, it’s quads and ATVs going through the forest that start fires.”

Several hours after making that comment to NL News, lightning sparked a wildfire near East Barriere Lake, and locals spent several hours knocking down flames. The fire happened about a kilometre away from the property that was asking for a permit for short-term rentals from the regional district earlier in the day.

Neighbours have also made complaints to the TNRD about a Chalet on the same road operating as a short-term rental – being rented out for $1,495 to $2,500 a night on Airbnb.

(Photo: Airbnb)

Editors note: A previous version of this story claimed the owners of the property owner had been occasionally renting their home on Airbnb for about $400 per night. While the property was listed as a short-term rental, the owners claimed they never did actually rent the property owner.