BANGKOK: Condo unit owners, who offer short-term rental services without permission in Thailand, are in violation of the Hotel Act which carries penalties of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both, plus an additional 10,000 baht fine per day until such activities cease.
The Act serves to protect the safety of guests from perils like fire, crimes etc, from the shortcomings and deficiencies of short-term rental accommodations (STRA).
But it is unlikely such laws would be adopted in Malaysia where hotels have to compete with such lettings.
Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DPA) Chaiwat Chirauntirawong said there are problems with some condo unit owners renting rooms out as short-term accommodation to tourists via online application platforms.
Many non-residents use the common areas of strata residential properties, some resorting to anti-social behaviour that made residents feel unsafe.
To enforce the laws, administration officers sometimes pose as tourists and book rooms in a condo via one of the online apps. They meet the agent at the condo to receive the keys.
When they find that the condo rooms were set up as hotel rooms, the officials reveal their identities and conduct further inspections with law enforcers.
Charges are filed against the condo owner and the agent.
This is how Thai local authorities act to curb the mushrooming of illegal short-term accommodation that competes unfairly with established hotels of the Thai Hotels Association.