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- Oct 30, 2014
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I KNOW of a private condominium in town where some home owners rent out their units while living elsewhere ("URA to seek feedback on short-term home rentals"; Dec 17).
Some of these owners are oblivious to how their tenants are using the property. For example, "resourceful" tenants sublet the units to transient lodgers.
Nowadays, litter mars the once-pristine grounds, and multi-purpose rooms are packed with noisy foreign guests. In short, the whole character and ambiance of the estate have changed.
In one case, a tenant rented out a five-room unit to 30 women from Thailand. The owner was abroad and oblivious to this venture.
One day, a huge stack of mattresses - enough for a platoon of soldiers - was delivered. Dolled-up women were seen being driven away by minibuses in the evenings, and streaming back individually in the wee hours of the morning.
When the property management inspected this unit, internal bedroom partitions and additional toilets were found. The owner was informed about this blatant indiscretion and the women were asked to go, mattresses and all.
Of course, a gracious society must accommodate temporary visitors, but there are appropriate ways of doing so - hostels, budget hotels and registered bed-and-breakfasts.
Preferably, transient visitors should not infringe on the restricted common premises and facilities of private homes, competing for shared spaces and assets as well as posing security issues.
To cater to home owners who want to earn some income by renting out their units, these transient occupants could be registered by the owners with the property's management agent or committee, so that all occupants can be accounted for and be accountable for their behaviour.
A copy of the tenancy agreement, with the conditions of rental and the owner's contact details, must be given to the management agent or committee.
Owners whose units are rented out should pay additional conservancy fees, to allow their occupants to use the common facilities.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority should consider these proposals in finding ways to manage short-term rentals of private homes.
Yeo Hock Yew
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...me-rentals-changed-estates-character-20150103
Some of these owners are oblivious to how their tenants are using the property. For example, "resourceful" tenants sublet the units to transient lodgers.
Nowadays, litter mars the once-pristine grounds, and multi-purpose rooms are packed with noisy foreign guests. In short, the whole character and ambiance of the estate have changed.
In one case, a tenant rented out a five-room unit to 30 women from Thailand. The owner was abroad and oblivious to this venture.
One day, a huge stack of mattresses - enough for a platoon of soldiers - was delivered. Dolled-up women were seen being driven away by minibuses in the evenings, and streaming back individually in the wee hours of the morning.
When the property management inspected this unit, internal bedroom partitions and additional toilets were found. The owner was informed about this blatant indiscretion and the women were asked to go, mattresses and all.
Of course, a gracious society must accommodate temporary visitors, but there are appropriate ways of doing so - hostels, budget hotels and registered bed-and-breakfasts.
Preferably, transient visitors should not infringe on the restricted common premises and facilities of private homes, competing for shared spaces and assets as well as posing security issues.
To cater to home owners who want to earn some income by renting out their units, these transient occupants could be registered by the owners with the property's management agent or committee, so that all occupants can be accounted for and be accountable for their behaviour.
A copy of the tenancy agreement, with the conditions of rental and the owner's contact details, must be given to the management agent or committee.
Owners whose units are rented out should pay additional conservancy fees, to allow their occupants to use the common facilities.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority should consider these proposals in finding ways to manage short-term rentals of private homes.
Yeo Hock Yew
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...me-rentals-changed-estates-character-20150103
