Malaysia is drafting nationwide STRA guidelines requiring short-term rental premises to be licensed, comply with local laws and verify listings
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), through PLANMalaysia and in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), state governments and local authorities, is drafting STRA planning guidelines to serve as a uniform source of authority.
The move comes as the government seeks to require that only premises registered and fully compliant with local authority licensing conditions may legally operate short-term rental accommodation (STRA) nationwide, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.
“Under this framework, strata premises remain bound by the provisions and by-laws of their respective Joint Management Bodies (JMB) or Management Corporations (MC) under the Strata Management Act 2013.
“To ensure full compliance, the government is also encouraging strategic cooperation with digital platform companies to implement an automatic licence status verification mechanism before any premises is listed,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) on provisions requiring short-term accommodation platforms to verify licence status, delist unlicensed premises and regulate such operations.
Aiman Athirah said digital platform providers must take responsibility for delisting premises that are unlicensed or in breach of local authority conditions and existing laws, while enforcement agencies hold the legal power to act firmly against recalcitrant operators.
“Local authorities and enforcement agencies have the right to take legal action under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, as well as by-laws, against stubborn operators and to ensure listings of illegal accommodation on service provider portals are blocked,” she said.
On the guidelines, she said the document is now in the final review stage with MOTAC before being raised for the Cabinet’s consideration.
“The document will be tabled at the National Council for Local Government (MNKT) for mutual agreement before being adopted by state and local authorities nationwide,” she said.
Aiman Athirah praised the Penang state government for moving ahead in regulating the sector through the gazetting of local by-laws.
“Penang has implemented the Guidelines for the Operation of Private Accommodation in Strata Property Schemes from April 1, 2023 and has enforced the Private Accommodation (Local Authority) By-Laws from Aug 1, 2026,” she said.
On the proposal to cap rentals at 180 nights, Aiman Athirah said a regulatory impact assessment had already been carried out during the preparation of the initial regulatory framework.
“Any cap must take into account the opportunity for premises to generate income while meeting the needs of the tourism industry, and must also prioritise public safety and order as well as the wellbeing of residents,” she said.
