Renting out a room just got harder with Planning Act Amendment

SINGAPORE (Feb 7): Leasing your apartment or room out on a short-term basis through homestay networking services such as Airbnb may very soon be ruled as illegal under Singapore law.

In a second reading of a speech on the Planning (Amendment) Bill 2017 in parliament on Monday, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong says he intends to “make explicit the lawful boundaries pertaining to residential rental and subletting”.

The Bill will introduce a new schedule to the Planning Act, which lists the use of residential property for short-term and dormitory accommodation, as illegal without URA’s permission. This also involves stricter penalties for unauthorised development, works or subdivision for repeat offenders or the unauthorised use of private property.

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