I don`t think Airbnb was very successful in Hk. Seemed not to be generally accepted by both parties compared to states, for example. However, the maximum penalty for operating a guest house without a license is a fine of HK$200,000 and two years in prison. The Office of the Licensing Authority of the Ministry of the Interior also devotes a team to the Internet search for alleged unauthorized guest houses. Every year, hundreds of homeowners are convicted. Despite the lucrative returns from renting your apartment, the legal risks of running an unlicensed guesthouse are quite high. Someone in/near Sai Kung advertises in Sai Kung magazine to rent a room for $850/night, at least 2 weeks. Do you think it`s legal? The income potential of renting alternative housing is so attractive that many individual hosts trust Airbnb to protect them from damage and litigation. Airbnb seems to be the new way to book travel accommodation. With little or no legal risk for landlords and individual travellers, this business will continue to grow and the legal sector will only need to adapt if it wants to better regulate the new temporary housing trends of the future.
Every city and country has its own laws that govern how companies can operate there. This article explains the legal risks of using Airbnb in Hong Kong and how to protect yourself during your visit. People are attracted to the Airbnb option because, according to a September 2016 study, it was found that in many cases, an entire house can be rented from Airbnb for the same cost as renting a room in a hotel. We recommend that you do your own research as this article is not complete and does not constitute legal or tax advice. As we do not update this article in real time, please check each source and make sure that the information provided has not changed recently. Before starting their business, Airbnb owners should review local business registration laws and tax rules, or seek legal advice. I stayed in a few Airbnb apartments and really enjoyed the experience. Wondering if it is legal to rent such apartments in Hong Kong? I don`t think it`s illegal, but maybe not entirely legal either. I think most AirBnB places are not registered with the Licensing Authority Office, and probably in many apartment complexes, daily subletting is not strictly allowed, especially if it is the entire apartment and not just the single rooms. When I look at AirBnB`s prices, I don`t find them so attractive. In addition to the room rate, there is a cleaning and service fee, then you will need to arrange a time to meet the owner, and you may need to leave early in the day when you leave.
So unless there are significant savings, I might prefer to pay for a regular hotel, or look for a more established B&B with regular check-in hours. As in many other countries, the government will neglect to address the problem unless hotel lobbyists feel the pressure on their revenues, as in the case of New York. Therefore, the risks of operating illegal hostels in Hong Kong are currently low, and many people are taking advantage of it. This can be supported by the fact that Airbnb is actually helping to alleviate a well-known problem of hotel shortages. Then you should stamp the lease so that it is legal? It is estimated that there are more than 7,000 real estate listings in Singapore on Airbnb. However, you are likely to violate Singapore`s housing laws when you rent out your property. In general, short-term rentals are illegal under these circumstances: Airbnb has fallen into a gray area in Hong Kong. Technically, the service is legal as long as all the properties on the site have the right short-term rental licenses. However, some reports suggest that most of them do not, and the local government has worked in recent years to crack down on unregistered registrations.
The reality on the ground is that Airbnb continues to operate virtually normally, although we tell this is a good idea to message your potential host to check if everything is okay before pressing Book. If you`re taking a tour of Asia, one of your stops will probably be Hong Kong. Being an Airbnb host means a lot of potential bookings, so Airbnb continues to expand its operations in the Hong Kong market segment. However, in order to stem the massive influx of short-term rentals into Hong Kong`s rental market, lawmakers have established a set of rules that regulate the region and prevent people from illegally listing places. Yes, the vacation rental business is legal in Hong Kong, but any property rented for less than 28 days must have a license to do so, as specified in the Hong Kong Hotels and Guest Houses Accommodation Ordinance. Some people feel that Airbnb is actually providing a valuable service in Hong Kong by helping to alleviate some of the major hotel room bottlenecks currently affecting the city. Air B&B will only continue to expand its business in the Hong Kong market segment. While this expansion into this market will only grow, the city`s Airbnb hosts pose serious legal issues. When using the Air B&B service, many legal risks lie with the owners. You should be aware of the laws, rules and regulations regarding short-term occupancy requirements in your area before you register and attempt to rent out your property. Hosts with multiple listings are more likely to run a business.