URA seeks feedback on short-term private-home rentals
SINGAPORE — The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday launched an online survey to gather feedback on how people feel about short-term rentals by owners of private residential properties, as the concept of home-sharing becomes increasingly popular around the world.
An Anti-Airbnb rally in New York on Jan 20. New York is also seeking views on short-term stays. A hearing yesterday was held at City Hall entitled "Short Term Rentals: Stimulating the Economy or Destabilizing Neighborhoods?" Photo: Reuters
SINGAPORE — The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday launched an online survey to gather feedback on how people feel about short-term rentals by owners of private residential properties, as the concept of home-sharing becomes increasingly popular around the world.
The multiple-choice survey includes questions such as: What are the concerns residents have if their neighbours rented out their premises; what would be a reasonable duration for short-term rentals; and how can the URA increase its effectiveness in investigating infringement of regulations? The public can take part in the survey, which is posted on the URA’s website, until Feb 23.
In a statement, the URA said it is also considering whether to adjust the minimum period of stay by tenants for private residential properties. At present, the URA’s subletting guidelines do not allow owners of private homes to sublet their premises for stays of less than six months.
“We will also look into enhancing URA’s enforcement powers, particularly in the area of investigation capabilities,” it added.
While the URA is seeking to get a fuller picture of people’s views on the issue, Minister for National Development (MND) Khaw Boon Wan has indicated that he does not think that short-term subletting is a good idea.
In a blogpost Some Things Are Harder To Share, Mr Khaw wrote: “While it earns extra income for the home owners, their neighbours would not like to see their quiet neighbourhood becoming a hotel district. I myself think it’s not a good idea. We certainly do not allow such arrangements in HDB towns.”
He noted that the issue is also being hotly debated in many cities, despite the global popularity of home-sharing websites such as Airbnb.
In a paper released last year, the Sharing Economy Association Singapore (SEAS) noted that existing laws on private property do not address the issue of short-term rentals.
The paper called on the Government to create a policy framework that “establishes fair and progressive rules for home-sharing”.
Meanwhile, websites running short-term rental services such as Airbnb, Roomorama, travelmob and PandaBed hope that the URA’s feedback exercise will result in more clarity to regulations relating to short-term rentals in private residential properties. Roomorama founder Teo Jia En told TODAY that they constantly check up on the latest policies to ensure that they are operating within the confines of the law.
An Airbnb spokesperson noted that major cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and San Francisco have created clear rules that allow their residents to occasionally rent out their homes. “We encourage the URA to create fair, clear and progressive rules,” the spokesperson said in an email interview.
Amid the debate, HDB resident Raymond Tan, 37, said he would feel more comfortable if tenants stayed for a longer duration because this would allow him to get to know them better. “My kids are very young; if different people walk in and out on a daily basis, I will feel a little worried.”
However, condo owner Tan Bee Lian, 57, likes the idea of short-term rentals since it would allow her to meet new people from various countries.