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Room rental as tourist

Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 2:43 pm
by Angelus
Hopefully I posted this in the right section. My mom plans on visiting me and my wife from abroad but unfortunatly as we live together with other roommates she cannot stay with us for the nights. We were wondering if it is possible for her to rent a room nearby as we live relatively far from the center where all the hotels are. I know HDB's cannot be rented out to tourists, even short term (as it states clearly on HDB's website), but how about condo's and appartments? Are owners allowed to rent out rooms to tourists? I found some websites listing these rooms (e.g. https://www.airbnb.com.sg/s/Singapore?s ... y_map=true ) but not sure if it is 100% legal.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Room rental as tourist

Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 4:03 pm
by taxico
Angelus wrote:Hopefully I posted this in the right section. My mom plans on visiting me and my wife from abroad but unfortunatly as we live together with other roommates she cannot stay with us for the nights. We were wondering if it is possible for her to rent a room nearby as we live relatively far from the center where all the hotels are. I know HDB's cannot be rented out to tourists, even short term (as it states clearly on HDB's website), but how about condo's and appartments? Are owners allowed to rent out rooms to tourists? I found some websites listing these rooms (e.g. https://www.airbnb.com.sg/s/Singapore?s ... y_map=true ) but not sure if it is 100% legal.

Thanks in advance.
same rules for private property - no rentals to tourists allowed.

nothing precludes you from renting a place on her behalf if the landlord allows it though, as i assume you are bona fide and the paperwork will all be in order and your mom's in the country legally.

Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 4:06 pm
by maneo
Don't apartment rentals need to be a minimum of 6 months?
Or, has something changed?

There were some articles about this 6 months ago:

http://e27.co/a-year-in-and-short-term- ... singapore/

http://www...sg/articles-prope ... s/a/135931

Posted: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 5:36 pm
by AngMoG
maneo wrote:Don't apartment rentals need to be a minimum of 6 months?
Or, has something changed?

There were some articles about this 6 months ago:

(links)
Are we back to this again? Afaik, short-term rental of HDB is illegal; however, short-term rental of condos is up to the landlord and condo management. Many condo managements will frown upon short-term rentals < 6 months (as it inconveniences other tenants of the condo when people move in and out all the time). Most landlords do not want to rent out for such a short term either. But technically, there is nothing illegal for short-term condo rental - if you can find a willing landlord.

Posted: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 1:42 pm
by thismyvoice
maneo wrote:Don't apartment rentals need to be a minimum of 6 months?
Or, has something changed?

There were some articles about this 6 months ago:

http://e27.co/a-year-in-and-short-term- ... singapore/

http://www...sg/articles-property/singapore-property-news/short-term-home-rentals-illegal-warn-authorities/a/135931
Minimum 6 months rental. However, nowadays landlords can be rather creative. Recently there was this case about a property agent/landlord who owns a number of apartments in CBD. Sign rental lease for 6 months but allow tenant to break lease without penalty after 1 month or x number of days.

Posted: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 5:41 pm
by maneo
AngMoG wrote:Are we back to this again? Afaik, short-term rental of HDB is illegal; however, short-term rental of condos is up to the landlord and condo management. ... But technically, there is nothing illegal for short-term condo rental - if you can find a willing landlord.
The 2nd paragraph of the SG property News article states:

"... this is illegal here, the authorities have warned home owners.
"Renting out a room or a whole unit short-term is in breach of private and public housing rules, and owners can face tough penalties if they are caught doing so." {ed.note: boldface added for those that may have overlooked this}
http://www...sg/articles-prope ... s/a/135931

As thismyvoice also noted, some landlords may be quite "tolerant" of those that break 6 mo. leases early ("rather creative," eh?).
:roll:

Posted: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 5:51 pm
by hotelsandphotos
Why risk running into trouble with the authorities? There are budget hotels which cost under 100SGD a night; much cheaper if you are looking for single beds at hostels.

Posted: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 5:52 pm
by x9200
hotelsandphotos, you are being watched.

Moderator

Posted: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 1:13 pm
by Angelus
Thanks for the replies everyone.

Although the post above clearly has other intentions, we indeed do not wish to run into trouble with the authorities or have to jump through loopholes to get my mom in an apartment/condo.

I found this source on the Urban Redevelopment Authority website stating rental of less than 6 months is not allowed for private property: http://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/media-room/fo ... 13-19.aspx

We have booked her a hotel and will just have to travel a bit longer to meet up :)

Posted: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 1:49 pm
by sundaymorningstaple
AngMoG wrote:
maneo wrote:Don't apartment rentals need to be a minimum of 6 months?
Or, has something changed?

There were some articles about this 6 months ago:

(links)
Are we back to this again? Afaik, short-term rental of HDB is illegal; however, short-term rental of condos is up to the landlord and condo management. Many condo managements will frown upon short-term rentals < 6 months (as it inconveniences other tenants of the condo when people move in and out all the time). Most landlords do not want to rent out for such a short term either. But technically, there is nothing illegal for short-term condo rental - if you can find a willing landlord.
I'm getting tired of posting and reposting the relevant links that clearly shows that you cannot "legally" rent out condo rooms either, unless for a minimum of 6 months as well.

Once more......

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/sutra6 ... ura#669600

moderator

Posted: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 4:23 pm
by PNGMK
I personally consider it an infringement on my rights as a property owner to not be allowed to run a short term rental - however Singapore is not the only country with these sorts of rules. AirBNB are running into legal issues in NYC over the same problems as we have here with URA.

Posted: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 4:35 pm
by sundaymorningstaple
Yeah, I saw that news report as well.