Call to Allow Airbnb in Singapore

The following question stood in the name of Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry –

To ask the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider working with Airbnb to come up with a meaningful way of regulating private homes from being rented out by balancing the interests of home owners and neighbours, given that is an important part of the travel experience, especially for the millennials.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of National Development and the Urban Redevelopment Authority have held meetings and discussions with various stakeholders on the issue of short-term accommodation. There are different views among home owners who are keen to put out their units for short-term accommodation and those who are concerned about privacy and safety in their homes. There are also competing interests between hotel operators and short-term stay platform operators like air bed and breakfast (Airbnb).

Nevertheless, from these discussions, we believe there is scope to allow short-term accommodations in Singapore, subject to proper safeguards and controls. We are working out these regulatory parameters and will consult the public on the proposed measures before finalising them.