Airbnb brokers Thai Govt ‘partnership’ deal, blanks Hotel Act illegal rentals

[webfact]

Airbnb brokers Thai Govt ‘partnership’ deal, blanks Hotel Act illegal rentals

The Phuket News

 

Airbnb has successfully negotiated an ’Empowering Local Tourism Entrepreneurs’ partnership with the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Local Administration (DOLA). Image: Airbnb

 

Airbnb has successfully negotiated an “Empowering Local Tourism Entrepreneurs” partnership with the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Local Administration (DOLA).

 

The milestone was hailed as Airbnb’s first official partnership with a government agency in Thailand, the company announced in a release issued today (July 7).

 

“Through the partnership, Airbnb and the Ministry of Interior’s DOLA will work together to train local provincial officials on hospitality, hosting and compliance standards; and onboard existing homestays onto Airbnb’s global platform,” said the release.

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/airbnb-brokers-thai-govt-partnership-deal-blanks-hotel-act-illegal-rentals-67773.php#mtjqBVVOk3R7ukP4.99 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-07-06

[bluesofa]

From what I can see, this seems like a non-news story.

It looks like a publicity stunt between Airbbnb and the government which offers nothing at all. The new law on hotels will still be applied, not helping Airbnb customers at all.

 

Or have I read it wrong and there is some use to Airbnb becoming an offshoot of TAT?

 

edit:
The "existing homestays" reference. I'm assuming they will also now require  a hotel licence, as 'visitors' surely aren't going to stay there for free?

If they won't require a hotel licence, I foresee a massive surge in 'homestays' in condos around the country.

 

[Rhys]

Good.. sometimes they get it..

[balo]

Great news , at least the do not throw them out, like they did with UBER. 

 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, balo said:

Great news , at least the do not throw them out, like they did with UBER. 

 

Hmm, I think if Uber had stopped their taxi business and changed to becoming a wing of TAT, the government probably wouldn't have throw them out either.

 

[snoop1130]

In a first, govt official stands by AirBnb legality

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Foreign tourists learn to cook local cuisine at a homestay in Lamphun province. Photo: Huay Sai Kao Homestay

 

BANGKOK — A state agency has confirmed that homeowners who offer their rooms on Airbnb won’t face legal repercussion as long as they notify local authorities, an official said Friday.

 

In a first recognition of the global vacation home rental platform, the Department of Provincial Authority told Airbnb reps in a Tuesday meeting that existing laws allow private properties to operate as small tourist accommodations – or homestays – interior affairs official Suttipong Juljarern said.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2018/07/06/in-a-first-govt-official-stands-by-airbnb-legality/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-7-6

[Emmess]

25 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Grease the right wheels and you can do anything in Thailand.

 

The bitters raging against AirBnB will be frothing at this news! 

 

?

No one will be frothing, as the bitters are against people renting out condominiums to Airbnb clients. What some one does in his private residence makes no difference to anyone.

[bluesofa]

23 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

BANGKOK — A state agency has confirmed that homeowners who offer their rooms on Airbnb won’t face legal repercussion as long as they notify local authorities, an official said Friday.

Grease the right wheels and you can do anything in Thailand.

 

The bitters raging against AirBnB will be frothing at this news! 

I just wonder what notifying the locals authorities will involve?

A hotel licence for free? Or will it miraculously not be required?

Never a dull moment with the government doing an about face.

 

[eggers]

How will this work in line with the various laws ( Building & Hotel control laws, Immi Law & Land & residential Tax law) that ban stays of less than 30days in private Condos? 

[MekkOne]

16 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I just wonder what notifying the locals authorities will involve?

A hotel licence for free? Or will it miraculously not be required?

Never a dull moment with the government doing an about face.

 

It's called TM30

 

[MekkOne]

14 minutes ago, eggers said:

How will this work in line with the various laws ( Building & Hotel control laws, Immi Law & Land & residential Tax law) that ban stays of less than 30days in private Condos? 

It's quiet simple, If you host somebody in the house were you living it and you submit a TM30 form to the immigration you should be just fine (should).

 

[newnative]

Doesn't apply to condos, just private homes.

[jippytum]

The main objection to AB&B was from condo owners objecting to short term rentals in their  condominium buildings.

The recent court case in Hua Hin ruled the renting of condos for less than thirty days was illegal  and prevented AB &B continuing with this practice .The recent agreement between the government and AB&B  clarifies the position regarding private dwellings .Condominiums  not registered as hotels are not allowed to rent rooms for less than thirty days . Obviously the bluster from AB&B plays down the fact they are prevented from agreeing to accept bookings for less than thirty days in residential condo buildings . 

Owners should  pressure the committee and condo managers to make sure the law is applied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

[1duckyboy]

1 hour ago, eggers said:

How will this work in line with the various laws ( Building & Hotel control laws, Immi Law & Land & residential Tax law) that ban stays of less than 30days in private Condos? 

Now that the Thai government is partners with AirB&B to enhance the tourist experience, I don't anticipate any pesky laws interferring with their grand plan. Enforcement of laws, or lack of same, is key. The envelopes are big in this one.

[newnative]

2 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Nowhere in the article does it state that.

The article I read specifically said it did not apply to condos.

[paahlman]

22 hours ago, Emmess said:

No one will be frothing, as the bitters are against people renting out condominiums to Airbnb clients. What some one does in his private residence makes no difference to anyone.

I agree, but a Condo is also a private residence.

[newnative]

1 minute ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Link please.

Didn't save the link but feel free to look for it yourself.  In the article the minister waxed on about the joys of tourists finding rural homes to rent, etc., etc.

[brucec64]

Link please.

Did you actually read the article or just the first paragraph in ThaiVisa? There is a link to the full article and about halfway down it specifically says that this refers to rural homestays and not condos.

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[newnative]

38 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Link please.

Check last two sentences:

 

BANGKOK — A state agency has confirmed that homeowners who offer their rooms on Airbnb won’t face legal repercussion as long as they notify local authorities, an official said Friday.

In a first recognition of the global vacation home rental platform, the Department of Provincial Authority told Airbnb reps in a Tuesday meeting that existing laws allow private properties to operate as small tourist accommodations – or homestays – interior affairs official Suttipong Juljarern said.

“People who enforce the law, the Department of Provincial Authority, said clearly: if it’s your own home, it’s not a hotel,” Suttipong said at Friday news conference. “There’s no legal burden on rural homeowners as long as they register themselves as homestays.”

Read: Airbnb Teases Major ‘Partnership’ With Thai Gov’t

 

To qualify for such legal protection, homeowners who wish to rent out their spare rooms on Airbnb must register with the Department of Local Administration, or DLA, officials in their areas, said Suttipong, who heads the agency.

Officials will then inspect the properties to ensure that they are clean and safe for tourists. There is no registration fee, Suttipong said, adding that his department is also training its officials to work with Airbnb and urge homeowners in beautiful rural areas to offer their places as homestays via the website.

“We are like cupids,” Suttipong said. “Our role is to make people meet and fall in love. In this case, it’s tourists meeting beautiful nature and friendly way of life.” 

The first workshop between Airbnb and the department officials was also launched Tuesday, per an earlier statement from Airbnb that they would unveil its first cooperation with a Thai state agency, according to company spokeswoman Mich Goh.

“Today we are very proud and happy to announce a partnership with the DLA to promote local entrepreneurship,” Goh said. “This is the first official Airbnb partnership with Thai authorities.”

The legal exemption only applies to owners of private homes, and not condominium rooms. The Tuesday meeting did not discuss the legality of the latter, Suttipong said. 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, paahlman said:

I agree, but a Condo is also a private residence.

 

Except that you generally cannot enter a condominium without crossing common property.  Which impinges on the rights of the other owners in the building.

 

[paahlman]

Just now, impulse said:

 

Except that you generally cannot enter a condominium without crossing common property.  Which impinges on the rights of the other owners in the building.

 

Generally.. Yes... Agree on that point too.., but not at all always.. Sometimes many of them have private entrances although that is not often. 

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, paahlman said:

Generally.. Yes... Agree on that point too.., but not at all always.. Sometimes many of them have private entrances although that is not often. 

 

They may have a private entrance, but the defining characteristic of a condo is that you own the space enclosed within your unit. 

 

You don't even own the walls, floor or ceiling- much less the land it sits on (why foreigners can own condos- their ownership doesn't include the land).  Just the space.  So even if there is a private entrance, occupants have to cross common property to enter that private space.

 

[eggers]

On 7/7/2018 at 10:53 AM, newnative said:

Doesn't apply to condos, just private homes.

Think, you'll find does apply to Condos as they are covered by current laws (( Building & Hotel control laws, Immi Law & Land & residential Tax law) that ban stays of less than 30days in private Condos! 

[newnative]

2 minutes ago, eggers said:

Think, you'll find does apply to Condos as they are covered by current laws (( Building & Hotel control laws, Immi Law & Land & residential Tax law) that ban stays of less than 30days in private Condos! 

I was referring to the new agreement that allows short-term rentals of private homes.  This new agreement does not apply to condos.  Short-term rentals of less than 30 days are still not allowed, rightly, with condos.

[janclaes47]

I think many confuse a homestay with renting out their house or condo to short time tourists.

 

This is a homestay.

 

 

 

 

[DrTuner]

Magic word is "Provincial". A rice farm in Nakhon Nowhere can do AirBnB after a pile of paperwork.

[stud858]

Well there you go.  Money talks yet again. 

[jippytum]

On 7/7/2018 at 4:20 PM, Father Fintan Stack said:

Erm..

 

"In January, a court in the southern resort town of Hua Hin found owners of two condominium guilty of violating the hotel law for leasing their rooms to tourists.

Although it was widely reported that the verdict was the first legal blowback to Airbnb, Goh said today that her firm was not mentioned anywhere in the court documents of that case."

not correct link      https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1467442/airbnb-bookings-illegal-court-declares

[jippytum]

On 7/7/2018 at 4:20 PM, Father Fintan Stack said:

Erm..

 

"In January, a court in the southern resort town of Hua Hin found owners of two condominium guilty of violating the hotel law for leasing their rooms to tourists.

Although it was widely reported that the verdict was the first legal blowback to Airbnb, Goh said today that her firm was not mentioned anywhere in the court documents of that case."

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1467442/airbnb-bookings-illegal-court-declares

[bobbin]

On 7/7/2018 at 5:52 PM, impulse said:

 

They may have a private entrance, but the defining characteristic of a condo is that you own the space enclosed within your unit. 

 

You don't even own the walls, floor or ceiling- much less the land it sits on (why foreigners can own condos- their ownership doesn't include the land).  Just the space.  So even if there is a private entrance, occupants have to cross common property to enter that private space.

 

You are not completely correct with regards to condos..

 

While you hold title to your condo, you also own, in common with the other owners, the building and the land it occupies. That is the "common property" or areas.

 

This is a concept that escapes many purchasers.