Review of Requests for Airbnb-type Facilities
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef’s inquiry regarding the review and regulation of short-term accommodation (STA) facilities. Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the Urban Redevelopment Authority is consulting on a proposed framework that includes a new STA use category and requires 80% share value support for strata-titled developments. Proposed measures feature an annual 90-day usage cap, a six-person occupancy limit, guest registration, and mandatory fire safety compliance. Minister Lawrence Wong also noted potential licensing for platform operators and will finalize the framework after reviewing the ongoing public consultation feedback.
Transcript
23 Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will be reviewing requests for Airbnb-type facilities and, if so, how and what will be the criteria for the regulation and monitoring of the industry and its enforcement.
Mr Lawrence Wong: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is currently conducting a consultation exercise to seek the public’s views on a proposed regulatory framework for the use of private homes as short-term accommodation (STA).
Under this framework, URA proposes to establish a new use category for STA under the Planning Act. URA will assess the eligibility of a property for STA use by considering factors, such as its location and surrounding uses. For strata-titled developments, such as condominiums, STA use will only be allowed if there is support of at least 80% in share value.
The framework proposes several measures to mitigate the potential disamenities arising from STA. These include an annual 90-day cap on STA use, an occupancy cap of six persons per home, and submission of STA guests' details as part of the registration process. All STA units will also need to comply with fire safety regulations.
In addition, we are studying the possibility of regulating STA platforms through a licensing framework. This means that platform operators will be required to obtain a licence to advertise any STA activities in Singapore.
URA will work with relevant Government agencies to review the feedback obtained through the ongoing consultation exercise before finalising the regulatory framework for STA.