KOTA KINABALU: A guideline for Airbnb operators in Sabah is now being prepared by the State Attorney General’s office, disclosed Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji told reporters that the matter has been discussed in the State Cabinet and it agreed for City Hall to come up with a refined guideline for online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb operators.
“At the moment there is an existing guideline but it not sufficient to manage the Airbnb business. We are now waiting for the State Attoney General’s office to finetune the guidelines,” he said.
Hajiji who was met after officiating the launching of the state Town and Regional Planning Department’s Integrity Plan and its Excellence Service Award ceremony, said this when asked about City Hall’s plan to have a proper guideline for Airbnb operators.
Recently, at the fifth Sabah International Surveyors’ Congress, City Hall (DBKK) planning department director Stanley Chong Hon Chung said they planned to come up with the regulations and guidelines for online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb within this year.
City Hall has had several discussions with lawyers, the Lands and Surveys Department, and the Housing Controller, and would probably invite professional bodies as well when formulating the guidelines for Airbnb, he disclosed.
At present, Chong said City Hall is considering Airbnb activities as a lodging house, which is to provide short-term rental for sleeping accommodation to lodgers or travellers.
He said Airbnb activities are only allowed on lands zoned for commercial or commercial mixed use only and operating Airbnb services on residential zoning lands is strictly not permitted.
As City Hall considers Airbnb activities as a lodging house, operators would be required to comply with the Hotels and Lodging Houses By-Laws 1966, which requires a licence, Chong said, adding Airbnb service providers are also required to comply with the Fire and Rescue Department’s technical requirements, such as having a fire sprinkler system and emergency staircase, in order to operate on a commercial zoned land.
“At the moment, operators will have to follow (these regulations) as we do not have (specific) regulations or guidelines for Airbnb yet,” he said.
On Monday, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said the local authority is taking the necessary actions to help legalize Airbnb operations in residential areas here.
“We are in the process. As it is now, it is not going according to our by-laws. We will do the guidelines and change our laws so Airbnb can be implemented at any residential place,” said Yeo and he denied that the Airbnb operations are currently allowed in Kota Kinabalu areas.
“We will advise the Airbnb operators to stop. We use an advisory procedure first but we have advised the management corporation, the owners of the buildings to take action,” he said.