Bellingham home-share program could inform B.C. housing options

Bellingham has partnered with homesharing company Nesterly to match homeowners with renters and to manage screening, payments and agreements. B.C.'s Ministry of Housing said similar platforms, including Kelowna-based Happipad, are already being used in the province and expressed support for safe online matching services.

Bellingham has launched a home-sharing program in partnership with Nesterly to connect homeowners with compatible renters. Nesterly describes stays of one month or more and says it handles verification, background checks, automated payments and customizable rent agreements. Hosts in the program pay a one-time booking fee and a small monthly platform charge, and the city highlights community benefits such as shared costs and a greater sense of connection. The program is open to homeowners in Whatcom County with an extra private bedroom and includes incentives for affordable listings. Program details: - Bellingham partnered with Nesterly to match hosts and renters for stays typically ranging from a few months to about a year. - Hosts must own and live in the home as their primary residence and be residents of Bellingham or Whatcom County aged 18 or older. - Fees for hosts include a one-time booking fee of $95 to $195 and a 2.5% monthly fee for platform use and customer support. - Bellingham offers a Civic Leader Badge to hosts who list rooms at $600/month or less to highlight more affordable listings. - The city and Nesterly distinguish home sharing from short-term vacation rentals by emphasizing longer-term stays and deeper screening. - The B.C. Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs said similar services are already operating in B.C. and cited Kelowna-based Happipad as an example. Summary: The initiative presents a community-focused option that uses extra bedrooms in existing homes for longer-term rentals while the platform handles practical arrangements. The provincial ministry indicated it supports safe, online matching services and noted that comparable platforms already operate in B.C. Undetermined at this time.