Two charged in Singapore for renting out flats on Airbnb
Regulations ban homeowners from leasing property for less than three months without approval from authorities
Two men have been charged in Singapore with illegally renting out flats on Airbnb, the first such prosecutions there under new rules, local media reported Wednesday.
Regulations introduced in May ban homeowners from leasing property for less than three months without approval from authorities, meaning many short-term rentals on Airbnb should be illegal.
Housing policy is tightly controlled in space-starved Singapore, where 80 per cent of the population lives in public housing which is subsidised by the government.
Singaporeans Terence Tan En Wei, 35, and Yao Song Liang, 34, appeared in court Tuesday charged with illegally leasing out four flats in a luxury private condominium in central Singapore, according to court documents.
The Straits Times newspaper reported that they had used Airbnb. They face a fine of up to S$200,000 (US$148,000) if convicted.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority, which regulates housing, said it would take action against anyone responsible for letting out property for short-term accommodation.