Airbnb in Singapore: Some hosts still offering illegal short stays in condos and HDB flats

CNA06-02

SINGAPORE: Illegal short-term stays in Singapore are still being offered on rental platform Airbnb, checks by CNA have found. Short-term rentals of less than three months for private properties and ...

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href=\"https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/airbnb-singapore-hosts-illegal-short-term-stays-rental-condos-hdb-4376726\">Source Link</a>\n\n</div>\n","source":"can_highlight","html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\" />\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\"/>\n<meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no,email=no,address=no\" />\n<title>Airbnb in Singapore: Some hosts still offering illegal short stays in condos and HDB flats</title>\n<style 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found.\nShort-term rentals of less than three months for private properties and ...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/airbnb-singapore-hosts-illegal-short-term-stays-rental-condos-hdb-4376726\">Source Link</a>\n\n</div>\n\n\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","isBrief":false,"type":0,"news_type":1,"symbol":"5GC.SI","symbol_name":"斯恩威","start_time":0,"source_url":"https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/airbnb-singapore-hosts-illegal-short-term-stays-rental-condos-hdb-4376726","article_id":"2440230164","we_media_id":null,"thumbnails":["https://onecms-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/s--VmBOFcCY--/c_crop,h_737,w_1310,x_0,y_1/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mediacorp/cna/image/2024/06/01/screenshot_2024-06-01_224503.png?itok=Sk-c-c1U"],"rights":null,"url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=2440230164","pubTimestamp":1717279200,"sourceInfo":{"source_id":"can_highlight","name":"CNA"},"weMediaInfo":null,"summary":"Singapore forbids short-term rentals of residential units, but CNA found hosts on Airbnb offering stays of two or three nights in condominiums and HDB flats.","collect":0,"end_time":0,"defaultTopTitle":"channelnewsasia.com","property":[],"viewcount":null,"language":"en","relate_stocks":{"5GC.SI":"斯恩威","LU0456842615.SGD":"JPMorgan Funds - Emerging Markets Equity A (acc) SGD","LU1267930656.SGD":"FRANKLIN INDIA \"AS\" (SGD) ACC A","LU0918141887.USD":"安联亚洲实际收益股票基金","LU0868486357.SGD":"JPMorgan Funds - Emerging Markets Opportunities A (acc) SGD-H","LU0536402901.SGD":"FTIF - Franklin India A (acc) SGD","BK4523":"印度概念","LU0287143357.SGD":"Fidelity India Focus A-SGD","URA":"Global X Uranium ETF","LU0541501648.USD":"ALLSPRING  EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY \"A\" (USD) ACC","HDB":"HDFC银行","LU0348816934.USD":"ALLIANZ TOTAL RETURN ASIAN EQUITY \"AT\" (USD)","LU0528227936.USD":"富达环球人口趋势基金A-ACC","LU0708995666.HKD":"FRANKLIN INDIA \"A\" (HKD) ACC","BK4566":"资本集团","LU1854103824.USD":"M&G (LUX) POSITIVE IMPACT \"A\" (USD) 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(acc)","BK4588":"碎股","LU1105468828.SGD":"Allianz Total Return Asian Equity AM DIS H2-SGD","LU0348814723.USD":"ALLIANZ TOTAL RETURN ASIAN EQUITY \"A\" (USD) INC  NC","IE00B19Z9Z06.USD":"Legg Mason ClearBridge - US Aggressive Growth A Acc USD","LU2177674079.SGD":"Fidelity Asia Pacific Opportunities A-ACC-SGD (hedged)","BK4142":"酒店、度假村与豪华游轮"},"translate_title":"新加坡的爱彼迎：一些房东仍然在公寓和组屋提供非法短期住宿","themeId":null,"isJumpTheme":false,"ttsUrl":null,"symbols_score_info":{"5OC.SI":1,"URA":1,"HDB":1,"ABNB":1,"5GC.SI":0.9},"content_text":"SINGAPORE: Illegal short-term stays in Singapore are still being offered on rental platform Airbnb, checks by CNA have found.\nShort-term rentals of less than three months for private properties and less than six months for Housing Board (HDB) flats are not allowed under the law.\nA woman was fined more than S$175,000 on May 27 for selling short-term stays at three units to Airbnb guests for almost three years.\nDespite the law banning such rentals, CNA found more than 15 Airbnb listings in Singapore offering short-term stays in condominiums and HDB flats.\nA number of these listings have been active for months, with one having dozens of reviews from previous guests. Most claimed to be \"authorised serviced apartments\" on their listings. \nAccording to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), serviced apartments must be rented out for a minimum of seven days. Those approached by CNA on Airbnb offered shorter stays of two or three nights.\nIn response to CNA’s queries, URA said on Friday (May 31) that the listings on online platforms “may provide an indication that certain private properties are being misused”.\nIt added that it would take action if investigations show that these properties have been misused.\n\n\n\n\nDOZENS OF REVIEWS\nOne host named “Bob” had seven listings of what looked like six units, in the areas of Geylang and Katong. Across his listings, he had more than 200 reviews.\nCNA secured a booking with Bob from Jul 19 to Jul 22 for a unit in Geylang that had 60 reviews.\nHe approved the booking within minutes. When CNA asked about the minimum number of nights required, he said it was two.\nCNA then modified the booking to between Jul 19 and Jul 21. He accepted the alteration request and confirmed the new booking two days later.\nThe postcode he provided pointed to a condominium in Geylang called the Etage. \nDescribed as being minutes away from the central business district and a short walk to MRT stations, the unit was listed as an “authorised service apartment” that came fully furnished.\nReviews for the unit dated from three weeks ago to June 2022.\nHe did not reply when asked by CNA if the listing was legal.\n\n\n\n\n\n      An Airbnb listing for a condominium unit. \n    \n\n\n\n\nCNA approached another Airbnb user, named Candice, to see if she would allow a booking for two nights.\nAfter a few questions, she invited CNA to book her condominium unit near Leonie Hill Road for two nights for more than S$900.\nWhen asked if it was okay to book a stay from Jul 19 to Jul 21, she replied yes. Although she did not give a postcode, she confirmed it was a condominium.\nAlso listed as an “authorised serviced apartment”, the unit was advertised as a five-minute walk to the city with a tennis court, huge swimming pool and barbecue pit.\nIt had three reviews, with the latest being a one-star rating in December 2023. There were two other five-star ratings in November and December last year.\nAccording to her profile page, Candice has two years of hosting experience and has received 25 reviews from guests, dating back to December 2022.\nWhen asked about the legality of such a short stay, she did not reply.\n\n\n\n\n\n      An Airbnb listing of a condominium unit.\n    \n\n\n\n\nCNA also approached other Airbnb hosts about bookings. One host withdrew her invitation to book her place while another took down her listing after CNA questioned them about their listings.\nA user named Hayley sent CNA an invitation to book her unit after an enquiry was made for a three-night stay from Jul 1 to Jul 4. \nThe address given was for Mayfair Modern condominium in Bukit Timah.\nWhen asked if she knew that Singapore does not allow short-term stays and whether a one-night stay would be acceptable, she said she has a minimum stay requirement of three nights.\nWhen CNA reverted back to the original dates, she withdrew her invitation to book.\nAfter this reporter identified himself and asked if she knew that offering short stays was against the law, Hayley said on Saturday afternoon that she “actually didn’t know”. \nShe added that she has taken down her listing and would look for long-term tenants instead. When CNA checked on Saturday evening, her listing could no longer be found.\nAnother listing by a host named Rebecca allowed bookings of a few nights at her unit at RV Residences in River Valley. There were two reviews from previous guests.\nWhen asked about the legality of her listing, she apologised and said it was not for short-term stays. She later removed her listing.\nIt was not just condominium units listed on Airbnb. One listing, hosted by two people - Missy and Mint - was offering a room in an HDB flat in Bukit Panjang.\nWhen asked for the postcode, it pointed to the Segar Palmview HDB estate. It was shown as an “authorised serviced apartment” in the listing.\nHer place was available for booking for a minimum of one night – at S$100 per night. According to her profile page, she had one review from September 2023.\nShe did not reply when CNA asked if she knew it was against the law to allow short-term rental of HDB flats.\nCNA has contacted Airbnb for more information about such listings, including if the platform conducts checks to ensure the listings comply with Singapore’s laws.\n\n\n\n\n\n      An Airbnb listing of an HDB unit.\n    \n\n\n\n\nINVESTIGATIONS\nAll residential properties in Singapore – condominiums, walk-up apartments, flats, bungalows, or terrace houses – are intended for long-term residence.\nURA investigated 156 cases of suspected unauthorised short-term accommodation in private residential properties in 2023. There were 160 and 117 cases in 2022 and 2021 respectively.\nThe minimum stay duration of three consecutive months is to “minimise frequent turnover of transient occupants”, URA told CNA.\nSuch turnovers change the “residential character of a property and negatively affect neighbouring residents”.\nOn its website, Airbnb urged hosts in Singapore to comply with the law and highlighted the Planning Act, which prohibits the rental of private residential units for short-term accommodation.\nURA said that visitors who opt to book short-term stays at private residential properties may be required to assist in investigations if they are found staying at the property during checks by the authorities.\nThey may also suffer inconvenience and incur additional costs for alternative accommodation, URA said, adding that the management corporations (MCSTs) and security officers of some condominiums have been actively enforcing the regulations.\nSERVICED APARTMENTS\nAirbnb as a platform remains legal in Singapore. Many of the listings were for hotel rooms, which have no minimum stay duration.\nHowever, some of the listings that claimed to be \"authorised serviced apartments\" were condominium units or HDB flats.\nServiced apartments must be rented out for a minimum of seven days, and have to be developed or managed under one ownership. \nStrata subdivision of serviced apartments is not allowed, which means an individual unit in a condominium cannot be a serviced apartment.\nFor units that are not serviced apartments and are private property, Airbnb dictates that hosts should change their settings to allow rents for at least 92 consecutive nights so as not to fall foul of the law.\nAirbnb does not permit hosting in HDB flats. According to HDB, public flats or rooms in flats must be rented out for at least six months.\nUnder the Planning Act, anyone found guilty of engaging in short-term accommodation may minimally be fined up to S$5,000. Recalcitrant offenders or those who offer such stays at multiple properties will be taken to court.\n\n\n\n\nIn November 2023, a Singaporean man was fined S$1.43 million for renting out 19 properties for short-term stays to locals and tourists. \nHe had listed and advertised the units on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com and HomeAway and sublet them to tourists and guests in exchange for rent.\nIn May 2022, a real estate agent was fined S$1.16 million for providing short-term stays. He leased and sublet 14 properties in areas such as River Valley, Orchard and Keppel Bay. \nThe transactions took place on various platforms, including Airbnb and HomeAway.\nIn July last year, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said HDB detects possible cases of unauthorised renting out of flats through a range of methods, including monitoring advertisements and following up on public feedback.\n“HDB takes the violation of its rules and regulations seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant owners and tenants,” added the ministry.\n\n\n\n\nIn May 2019, URA said that it would not proceed with proposed regulations for the use of private residential properties for short-term accommodation. This meant the three-month minimum stay duration continued to apply.\nThe authority made the decision after consultations with key stakeholders since 2015, including members of the public, management corporations and managing agents of condominiums and neighbourhood committees.\nThe changes proposed include 80 per cent consent from homeowners in strata-titled developments to list the property for short-term accommodation, with management corporations to administer the voting process.\nThereafter, individual owners would have to register their intention to lease out their properties for short-term accommodation, and comply with the cap to rent out their property for only 90 days in a year.","kind":null,"is_publish_news":true,"is_publish_highlight":false,"is_publish_live":null,"is_publish_wemedia":null,"editions":null,"column":"","sentiment":"","news_tag":"","news_rank":0,"symbols":[],"gpt_button":1},"commentList":[],"isCommentEnd":true,"newsSizeData":{"likeSize":0,"commentSize":0,"repostSize":0,"favoriteSize":0,"likeStatus":false,"favoriteStatus":false},"APP":{"userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)","isDev":false,"isTTM":true,"deviceId":"web-server-community-laohu8-v3","version":"4.24.2","shortVersion":"4.24.2","platform":"web","vendor":"web","appName":"ttm","isIOS":false,"isAndroid":false,"isTiger":false,"isTHS":false,"isWeiXin":false,"isWeiXinMini":false,"isWeiBo":false,"isQQ":false,"isBaiduSwan":false,"isBaiduBox":false,"isDingTalk":false,"isToutiao":false,"isOnePlus":false,"isHuaWei":false,"isXiaomi":false,"isXiaomiWebView":false,"isOppo":false,"isVivo":false,"isSamsung":false,"isMobile":false},"href":"/m/news/2440230164"}