Set Up for Success

1. Talk to your Neighbours

Your home is part of a neighbourhood and your guests join that community for the time they stay. The most important thing you can do to ensure a successful rental is talk to your neighbours and ask how things are going with your rental. Ask if there are any concerns or positive feedback they would like to share. Communication with those around you is very important so that everyone feels part of the community and can share concerns if they come up.

2. Rental Agreement

Ensure you have an up to date rental agreement that requires your guests to adhere to the rules and bylaws as outlined in the agreement.

Ensure you know who will be using your short-term rental and you have checked their references.

3. Smaller Footprints

You can ask your guests to leave a smaller footprint on Hornby. Bring their own linens and take them home to wash, take recycling and garbage off the island to their home systems. Wash and flush less often, reuse grey water from sinks in the garden. Many visitors are happy to help.

4. Liability/Vacation Rental Insurance

If you are renting your property frequently for Vacation Rentals you should report this to your insurance company. In many cases your household insurance will not cover vacation rentals and you could find yourself without insurance if something were to go wrong.

5. GST

It is the law in Canada to report this income in the year you earn it. Over a certain limit (in 2025 $30,000 of gross income) you are required to register for, charge and pay GST on your rental income.

You can register at: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/account-register.html

6. PST

All short-term vacation rentals in British Columbia must register to collect and pay PST if they collect in excess of $2500 in gross rental income annually.

This tax is 8% and is collected from your guests. You earn a small commission on the amount of PST you collect and remit (you remit 7%). This is not an optional tax, it is the law to charge, collect and remit it to the Provincial Government.

Registration and remittance are easy and straightforward. Visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/sales-taxes/pst/register

7. MRDT

You are also required, by law, to charge 3% MRDT. This is commonly known as a "pillow tax" and is also payable to the Minister of Finance. The program is managed through Destination BC.

Funds from this tax are returned to the community, much of will support affordable workforce housing right here on Hornby. The Hornby Island Community Economic Enhancement Corporation manages this program locally.

Registration and remittance are easy and straightforward. Visit Destination BC at: https://www.destinationbc.ca/what-we-do/funding-sources/mrdt/program-requirements-application-procedure/

Create and Update a House Guide

It is good for visitors and the community to provide guests with as much information as possible. That can take the form of an information packet left at your short-term rental and/or sent via email. Even better, provide your guests with a book with the information you would like to share with them, meet them when they get there to go over important highlights from the package.

Here is a table of contents to help you to set up your guide:

A Contact for Questions and Support
Water Conservation
Septic management
Parking
A property map including the property lines
Garbage, Compost and Recycling
Noise, Quiet Times and Neighbourly Considerations (including the noise bylaw wording)
Parks, Trails and Beaches
Some information about the Indigenous History, Culture and archeological sites of Hornby
Health and Emergency Information
Fire and Wildfire Safety Information
Emergency numbers and information sources
Environmental and Ecological Considerations
Pets and Pet Etiquette
The Hornby Bus
Island Events, Businesses and other activities
The Annual Visitors Guide

8. Septic Systems

Ensuring that the septic system is properly maintained is very important. Septic systems require pumping and/or having the field flushed out regularly. These systems are required to be maintained annually or bi-annually by someone certified to ensure they operate as intended. If you are on Whaling Station Bay, Anderson Road or in High Salal you are required to have your septic system certified by an ROWP. Check the Resources page for a step by step guide to get that done

9. Water Management

This is a critical issue on Hornby so we have a dedicated section of best practices filled with ideas that will have a positive impact on the Hornby Island underground aquifer. Please implement as many as you can.

10. Fire Safety

Fire is a very important consideration on Hornby Island. It is essential that all guests understand the susceptibility of the Island to fire.

Install a certified fire extinguisher outside near your BBQ area and inside in the kitchen and near the fireplace (if there is one).
Ensure there are working hoses outside, in an easily accessible area.
Ensure your guests limit fires to a proper fire pit and let them know if, where and when fires are permitted on the island.
Discuss the concerns about beach fires with your guests.
If you do any lawn maintenance remember to check to make sure equipment that can shed sparks (lawnmowers, weed-eaters chain saws etc.) are permitted before you start on the lawn or cutting wood.
Have emergency phone numbers and information sources easily available