GEORGE TOWN: Short-term rentals should not be penalised as they are working towards being licensed, says the Penang Malaysia homestay/short-stay operators association.

       Its chairman Lydia Tan said the association had been communicating with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and waiting for the short-term residential accommodation guidelines for years.

       “They (the state government) should not judge us as unlicensed short-term rentals.

       “We operate in commercial buildings that are short-stay-friendly developments and where the whole building does not have permanent residents,” she added.

       Day-to-day or short-term rentals are currently unlicensed, unlike homestays which are licensed by the ministry.

       Tan said the difference between homestays and short-term rentals was distinct, with homestays specifically referring to kampung houses and homes in the outskirts surrounded by nature.

       “All the rest fall under short-term rentals and Airbnbs, which are all condominiums or apartments used as rentals.“Even those in heritage areas are not considered homestays.

       “We are a large group and the ministry is working on regulations for us,” she said.

       Tan said her association had seven branches nationwide with over 300 members.

       Freelance writer Amalina Ali, 31, said short-term rentals are usually last on her list when seeking accommodations for a holiday.

       “I prefer staying at homestays as there is no third party, so it is usually cheaper.

       “If I do not have a homestay contact, then I will stay at an Airbnb,” she said.

       Earlier, at a press conference in Gurney Plaza, state housing committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said he would recommend to the state to ban short-term rentals.

       “We do not allow visitors to stay next to residents for one or two days.

       “There were problems with homes offering short-term stays even before the pandemic.

       “We came up with the guidelines before the pandemic and now it is necessary to implement them as everything is resuming.

       “It is expected that people will be disturbed by short-term stays, usually at apartments.“This issue is not new. It has been around for years, but (it was quiet during) the pandemic.

       “Now with all the sectors reopening, it will resume and we expect there to be complaints. We have (to date) received more than 1,000 complaints from residents,” he added.

       Jagdeep said the ban would come in the form of “guidelines”, which would be passed to local councils for enforcement.

       The guidelines, among others, will empower management bodies of apartments, condominiums or any stratified properties to take action against errant homeowners who allow short-term rentals.

       He, however, said the date of the ban has yet to be decided.

       Last month, Jagdeep announced that the state would not allow “check-ins” at landed and high-rise buildings for short-term rentals.

       State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin reportedly said short-term rental homes or homestays had created unfair competition for licensed hotels that abide by the ministry’s regulations, including by paying taxes and hotel fees.

       Yeoh had explained that the ban would be imposed solely on high-rise buildings with residential titles, which prohibit owners from renting them out on a short-term basis.