Vancouver: The City of Vancouver has opened over 2,000 case files and taken enforcement action against 820 alleged unauthorised short-term rentals since rules were introduced requiring operators to have a business licence.

Isaiah Boodhoo, 22, thought it was a “complete hoax” when he saw a rental listing on Facebook for a bedroom in a Vancouver mansion for only $1,100 a month.

Lisa Mazurek was standing at the front desk of the Vernon courthouse, trying to get a peace bond against her tenant. She was tired, frustrated and running out of options.Since March, things had been going downhill with the tenant renting out her basement suite. What started off as late or unpaid rent had escalated to visits from the police, erratic behaviour, confrontations, drug use and even threats, she says.

A Vancouver woman was relaxing in her home on Thursday morning when she realized she couldn't see anything out the window of her apartment on MacDonald Street and West Third Avenue.