Thais riled by surge in illegal short-term condo rentals amid tourist influx
Short-term stays competing with the hotel sector have resulted in noise, mess and constant stream of visitors in formerly quiet residential areas
A surge in illegal short-term lettings of residential rooms is hitting Thailand’s hotels as overseas owners – many targeting the Chinese market – erode bookings and rile residents in flats that have become dormitories for overnight visitors.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is eyeing a tourist bonanza this year, with visa-free stays of up to 60 days forecast to help reel in about 38 million tourists – approaching the pre-pandemic record of 40 million.
Yet the visitor bounce has brought with it a new set of problems, including illegal lettings by foreign and local investors of condos for short-term stays, with Chinese visitors among the top clients, according to authorities and property experts.
Under the 2004 Hotel Act, owners cannot rent out their property for less than a minimum of 30 days without gaining a specific licence.
The law has not been fully amended to take account of the march of short-term rental platforms including Airbnb and booking.com, which openly advertise daily lets in residential blocks throughout the heart of Bangkok.
That has seen entire residential blocks converted into short stays that compete with the hotel sector, residents have said, with noise, mess and a revolving door of new visitors upsetting erstwhile quiet communities.