Short-term stays in apartments: Soon there will be answers for residents

Tourists wait for their check-in time at an apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: HIEU GIANG

Regarding the proposal to manage short-term accommodation business activities in apartment buildings, the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management ( Ministry of Construction ) has just issued document No. 418, stating that it will study and review to report to competent authorities for amendments and supplements in the near future.

Proposal for early "verdict" on short-term stays

Talking with Tuoi Tre Online on May 17 Regarding this issue, Mr. Le Hoang Chau - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association - said that this is a positive signal showing that the authorities have listened to and accepted the opinions of the people.

According to Mr. Chau, recently the Department of Document Inspection and Administrative Violations Management also had a meeting with representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction to discuss the content of the prohibition of "using apartments for purposes other than residence", related to Articles 12 and 13 of the regulations issued with Decision 26 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on the management and use of apartment buildings in the city.

According to Mr. Chau, currently most management boards and apartment management boards in Ho Chi Minh City have announced a ban on short-term rental of apartments in apartment buildings based on Article 12 of Decision 26 and documents of the Department of Construction.

Mr. Chau said that the Housing Law 2023 does not prohibit the rental of apartments for short-term stays, so the association has sent a document requesting the Department of Construction to submit to the City People's Committee to consider amending and supplementing Decision No. 26.

Statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association show that in the city, there are 24 apartment buildings and apartment complexes that are renting out short-term apartments through the intermediary application Airbnb with about 8,740 apartments and many apartments for short-term rental in direct or indirect forms.

Therefore, Mr. Chau believes that the authorities need to soon make adjustments to regulations to ensure the rights of short-term apartment renters as well as residents in apartment buildings.

Need to harmonize mutual interests

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thuong Hoai (representative of the community providing short-term accommodation services) said that recently, the Ministry of Construction and relevant agencies have issued documents responding to people's recommendations related to short-term accommodation services in apartment buildings.

However, the fact that apartments are banning short-term accommodation business has severely affected those who have invested in and rented apartments for business, causing economic losses when it is difficult to welcome guests to stay.

Therefore, Ms. Hoai believes that the authorities involved need to quickly respond and issue an official decision so that people have a basis to continue operating under management.

A representative of the management board of an apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City said that the apartment building's ban on short-term accommodation business was implemented according to the management board's request and Decision No. 26 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, so if there are any changes in policies and regulations, the management board will comply.

However, this person believes that besides the positive aspects, short-term stays in residential areas also lead to some inconveniences such as increased frequency of using utilities, potential security risks that make residents afraid or object, so there should be specific regulations for smooth implementation.

Will review and propose regulations on short-term apartment rentals

The Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management (Ministry of Construction) has just sent Document No. 418 to the Department of Document Inspection and Administrative Violations Handling Management ( Ministry of Justice ) related to the housing sector at the request of the Ministry of Construction.

In the summary of problems, shortcomings and recommendations (attached to meeting invitation No. 255) of the Department of Document Inspection and Administrative Violations Management, the content stated: The nature of the Airbnb accommodation rental service is that the tenant uses the apartment for the purpose of living, the law currently has no regulations to determine how many days a short-term rental is or prohibit the owner from renting out his apartment... If the apartment owner does not live there, they have the right to rent it out, this is one of the property rights of the owner as prescribed in the Civil Code...

In this summary, the handling direction is that the authorities should have comprehensive measures such as issuing specific legal regulations in the management of apartment buildings regarding short-term accommodation business activities.

Responding to the above content, the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management said it will take note, study and review to report to competent authorities for amendment and supplementation in the coming time.

HIEU GIANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/luu-tru-ngan-ngay-trong-chung-cu-som-co-cau-tra-loi-cho-nguoi-dan-20250517122249559.htm