Is Airbnb legal in Singapore ?

[mohamed66]

I would like to stay in Singapore for around 12 days. Is Airbnb legal in Singapore ? Can I use this website to book my stay? Hotels cost are roof high. Or suggest me any other good websites or option to stay there ?

[sundaymorningstaple]

To your first question the answer is technically NO but it is available here.

To your second question the answer it factually NO and you cannot.

As it IS illegal, we cannot recommend any place, on the forum, that is not above board in the eyes of the local laws.

[mohamed66]

Thanks for the info.

[PNGMK]

OP- you run a significant risk specifically with AirBNB in Singapore because it is illegal. There are stories of people being ripped off. What happens is the guest book a room or house and moves in. The host then shows up and says "we are being raided" and chases them out and they lose their money. Because AirBnb is illegal if you report it to the cops they tell there is nothing they can do.

Most AirBNB hosts here are pretty vague about the location and facilities as well in order to hide the actual location. Your "beautiful room next to the MRT with a pool and gym" may be a knocking shop next to the main road.

[Strong Eagle]

I used AirBnB the last time I was in Singapore without issues. What matters is what is being rented. For example, you will find tons of one bedroom condos listed for rent, many of them in the same buildings along River Valley Road. Clearly, most of the people have purchased units in these buildings with the intent of renting them out. Whether or not they get caught would depend, I suppose, on whether their neighbors turn them in or whether they are also renting out units.

If a place is not considered "residential" there is nothing illegal about AirBnB. Commercial properties can be rented. I rented in a shop house that also rented out the ground floors to several different businesses. If you search the AirBnB ads, it will become pretty clear which are residential properties being listed.

[martincymru]

OP
1. Ask for evidence that the company 'managing' the block allow AirBnB.
//
Q1. Is there a central listing in Sg of condo blocks that do not allow AirBnB?
Q2. Is there a maximum number days you may rent out via the AirBnB website?
Q3. If AirBnB is illegal then why do they an office here? https://www.yellowpages.com.sg/company/ ... re-pte-ltd

[sundaymorningstaple]

While I never got a response from admin on this and it drifted into obscurity, this was discussed at some length a couple of years ago.....
viewtopic.php?t=101901

and even later (2017)

viewtopic.php?t=115272#p766140

[Strong Eagle]

While I never got a response from admin on this and it drifted into obscurity, this was discussed at some length a couple of years ago.....
viewtopic.php?t=101901

and even later (2017)

viewtopic.php?t=115272#p766140

Thanks for bringing that up again, SMS. As a recall, there were quite a few conversations around intent and wording, and whether non HDB properties were included.

The thing that is odd is that there are more than 2000 rentals listed on AirBnB for Singapore. If you were the gahmen, going after these people would be like shooting fish in a barrel... their property descriptions and contact info is clearly listed.

Thus, it makes me believe that there are some sort of restrictions on the "no rent" rules that make them not apply to private properties... but that's just speculation on my part.

[PNGMK]

It is like shooting fish in a barrel but you need to understand that the most common way AirBNB landlords get caught out is by fellow neighbours and/or the MA for the condo complaining to URA. That's how we do it where I live. If the neighbours and MA don't care no one will know or complain.

[MikeJones]

According to this it still is illegal for both HDB and private property https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/airbn ... 03878.html

There was talk of changing the laws to allow for Airbnb type rentals but I've not seen anything about that for a while. As PNGMK says it seems that the govt. are not actively pursuing this but just responding to complaints from neighbours etc

Mike

[PNGMK]

I'm sure some AirBNB rentals are actually hotels and knocking shops etc as well which are legal.

[Wong_Jnr]

There are some legit listings on AirBnB, such as legally registered Serviced Apartments.
Problem is for the uninitiated there are potential issues.

I for one have reported the illegal listings in my condo block to the URA.

[PNGMK]

There are some legit listings on AirBnB, such as legally registered Serviced Apartments.
Problem is for the uninitiated there are potential issues.

I for one have reported the illegal listings in my condo block to the URA.

I have a picture from last saturday of a drunk Russian (or maybe Ukrainian) girl passed out by our pool at 6am. Lucky she didn't drown. My wife had alerted me so I went down to roll her over into a recovery position so she wouldn't asphyxiate on vomit. I asked her "AirBNB?" and she responded "Da". Guess who called the URA once I worked out what unit she was living in.