Saturday 7 February 2015

[Straits Times] Short-term leasing has its benefits

IN HER letter ("Potential ill effects of short-term leasing", Wednesday), Ms Beatrice Tang wrote that landlords do not have the means or expertise to verify the reliability of short-term guests, and could end up housing illegal immigrants, or worse, criminals and terrorists.

But what about hotels and hostels?

All they want to see is the page of your passport that has your photo and name on it.

I have been an active short-term host for three years and I have received many people into my home.

They come from many countries and from all walks of life, including policemen, teachers, architects, graphic illustrators, start-up techies and students.

The very few incidents involving bad behaviour of short-term guests all arise from the fact that the host is not living in the same premises.

When the lodging is a private room, as opposed to the entire home or apartment, bad behaviour is very much minimised.

Ms Tang also said that "cities that legitimise short-term leases experience a shrinkage in the supply of affordable rental properties".

I doubt this will happen in Singapore, and even if it did, most Singaporeans own their homes and will be unaffected.

In fact, if the Urban Redevelopment Authority does legitimise short-term rentals, Singaporeans would gain because if they were looking for a tenant for their second home and could not find a long-term one, this would be a great stop-gap solution.

Bianca Sandra Overree (Ms)