HCMC has banned apartment owners from leasing their properties for short durations as it seeks to stop unauthorized Airbnb-like services.
Only businesses licensed to operate tourism services could hereafter lease their units for short durations, it said without spelling out what it means by “short.”
With the number of apartment towers soaring in recent years in Vietnam’s biggest city, many owners lease their properties exclusively to short-term renters.
They often take advantage of accommodation apps such as Airbnb and social media groups to connect with customers, and their incomes are mostly untaxed.
The popularity of Airbnb-like services has resulted in conflicts between short-term tenants and long-term residents, who complain about guests making noise late at night and their lack of cleanliness.
Many residents are also upset at having to share facilities such as elevators, gyms and pools with renters, some of whom also indulge in illegal activities such as gambling and drug use.
The Housing Law does prohibit leasing out apartments for short durations, but the ban is usually ignored due to the lack of oversight, analysts have said.
Source: Vnexpress
