Under the state's new rules, private homes can only be rented to a minimum of three consecutive months
A Singapore court fined two Airbnb hosts a total of S$60,000 (£32,540) each on Tuesday for unauthorised short-term letting in the first such case under the city-state’s rules on short-term property rentals introduced last year.
The two men had pleaded guilty to letting four flats in a condominium for less than six months without permission from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
They faced a fine of up to S$200,000 per offence under Singapore law.
- Read more
Joanna Dai, the ex-banker taking on the world of women’s fashion
Prosecutors sought fines of S$20,000 per charge for a total of S$80,000 for each of the two defendants. Defence lawyers sought fines of S$5,000 per charge.
Judge Kenneth Choo on Tuesday fined the two hosts S$15,000 per charge each. He said the fines would serve as a signal to deter others from pursuing such business to make a quick profit.
Private homes in Singapore are subject to a minimum rental period of three consecutive months, while for public housing, home to about 80 per cent of Singapore’s residents, it is six months.
The URA has said it would conduct a public consultation to seek feedback on a proposed regulatory framework for short-term letting.
Wong Soo Chih, the two hosts’ lawyer, said they paid their fines on the spot.
Airbnb did not have an immediate comment.
Reuters
Reuse content Read the Original Article
