Last updated on June 26th, 2023
Is Airbnb legal in Singapore?
The answer is yes! In Singapore, Airbnb as a platform is still legal. Depending on the property type – hotels, hostels, and private and public properties – local laws and regulations apply.
Currently, there are 439 Airbnb listings in Singapore, with 5,6% of entire houses earning up to $2,184 a month, 2,2% managed by professionals, and 1,8% managed independently. Apart from complete houses, Singapore’s Airbnb offerings include 6,8% of private rooms. According to short-term rental market data source Airbtics, a 2-bedroom apartment in Singapore can make up to $19,476 each year.
Here we will provide some useful information that can help you better understand the Airbnb Rules in Singapore.
Short-Term Rentals Law
Renting out houses to supplement your income may appear to be a good idea, but it may be against Singapore’s housing rules. The least rental length for Housing Development Board (HDB) units is usually six months, and they cannot be rented to tourists. The rental length for private properties is three months (minimum). As a result, renting out your property on Airbnb to different guests for a short length of time is seen as a violation of Singapore’s housing rules. Nevertheless, short-term rentals can still be run under strict Airbnb rules in Singapore
Airbnb rules in Singapore
Owners and operators of hotels or hostels must follow the Hotels Act. To register as a hotel, the hotel needs to get the necessary licenses from the Hotels Licensing Board.
If you run a serviced apartment, make sure you have planning permission or approval from the URA for the use of your property as a serviced apartment.
To get planning authorization from the URA, a Qualified Person must submit a development application along with the owner’s consent.
As serviced apartments must be owned and/or operated as a single entity, there can be no strata subdivision. Rental periods must be at least seven days.
With the launch of new tools on November 30, 2021, Airbnb is helping Singaporeans follow local laws and host with confidence. Airbnb hosts in Singapore must confirm the licensing status of their properties starting on January 10, 2022.
- If you’re hosting a listing in a hotel or hostel, please include the Hotels Licensing Board’s license number.
- Ensure your calendar is set to host for at least 92 consecutive nights if you’re hosting a listing in a private home.
- Check with the Housing Development Board for approval if you plan to host a listing in public housing for longer than one week.
Reference| Airbnb.co
Pros and Cons of running Airbnb in Singapore
Short-term rentals are vacation rental properties rented out on a short-term basis to guests, like hotels. This form of rental helps guests to feel more at ease and “at home” because the properties are typically designed in this manner.
A long-term rental is the most common sort of rental property utilized for residential purposes. This sort of rental property is usually protected by a long-term lease agreement with more binding terms than a short-term rental. Renting out their homes for a higher price than their mortgage allows them to generate regular income regardless of the market. Because it is more traditional and well-known, most people are more familiar with this sort of rental property.
Now that we’ve defined vacation rentals and long-term rental properties, let’s look at each component of rental properties that explains both the benefits and drawbacks of a short-term or long-term rental.
Pros
Flexibility – You have the option of renting for days, weeks, or months. You can rent as much or as little as you want. There’s also the possibility of going on a trip at any time and earning money while doing so!
Privacy – Short-Term Rentals are ideal for families. They provide guests with more privacy and space than standard hotels.
Earns more money than a long-term rental – It’s simple to calculate: $1500 for a vacation week vs. $1500 per month to rent for a year.
Good Deductions – There are numerous popular deductions available to rental property owners. Cleaning and maintenance, insurance, management fees, and utilities are just a few of the costs to consider. You may make a loss and avoid paying taxes entirely if you take enough deductions.
Tax Breaks – Short-Term Rental Owners receive the best home-related tax breaks.
Less Wear and Tear on the Property – With frequent renters, you can keep up with tiny repairs before they become major issues!
Social Advantages – There are a lot of interesting people in the world, and many of them travel! Your next acquaintances in a Short-Term Rental could evolve into lifelong buddies!
Cons
Inconsistent payments – If you rely on a stable income, a yearly renter is a much safer option. There’s a chance you won’t have a Short-Term Renter for weeks or months.
Must cover the utilities – Utility costs are usually paid by long-term renters. Short-term tenants don’t.
Increased risk – There is a higher danger of theft, breakage, or problem tenants because of the number of tourists going through your doors.
Requires extra effort – Running a Short-Term Rental requires more effort because you are the innkeeper. You’ll be in charge of collecting money, scheduling clients, and bringing in tenants. You’ll do it every week instead of every 5 years or so!
Additional maintenance expenses – As the landlord, you are responsible for housekeeping, pool maintenance, and general upkeep. Not always the case with a long-term renter.
Some HOA– Managed neighborhoods make it tough and complicated to rent short-term Rentals. People prefer comfortable, peaceful surroundings where they feel safe and know everyone, rather than random strangers coming and going at all hours. They may submit complaints, and some HOAs may sue Short-Term Rental Owners.
Conclusion
If you’ve made it this far, you’re thinking of starting an Airbnb.
We’ve been assisting folks like you, who are first-time Airbnb hosts. We don’t provide consulting since we aren’t experts in running Airbnb businesses; but, we do provide useful data to Airbnb hosts.
You may use the Airbtics dashboard to figure out how much money you can make doing Airbnb in your city. Unlike other online Airbnb income calculators, it will provide you with a lot more useful information, such as
- which neighborhood to target,
- which amenities are in high demand,
- what is the market’s historical performance,
- what are the occupancy rates of a two-bedroom house,
- should I do a two-bedroom house or a three-bedroom house?
In that case, the tool might be too complex for you, visit our tutorials – With the data dashboard, you can get meaningful and actionable insights.
Well, if you are new, there are many Airbnb host communities on Facebook. Type “Airbnb host” in the Facebook search, and you’ll see plenty of active communities where you can get help from experienced Airbnb hosts.
To see full data of Singapore– Click Here
