GEORGE TOWN – Owners of residential high-rise units that are leased out on a short-term basis, including those under Airbnb, must now get consent from their apartment buildings’ management authorities.
State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said this was among the new guidelines to tighten such leasing of units in residential high-rise buildings.
The guidelines will also include safety measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 to be imposed by the respective management committees.
Jagdeep, who heads the housing, local government and town planning portfolios, said the guidelines will be in force soon.
He said that the state has received many complaints related to home-sharing lease schemes such as Airbnb,
The state currently has 1,881 strata premises comprising 238,747 units.
The guidelines will have standard operating procedures (SOPs) on temperature checks at any entry or exit points, physical distancing of one metre apart at enclosed places such as elevators and compulsory wearing of face coverings whenever any resident or tenant leaves a unit.
Visitors are limited to two persons per unit at any given time. Recreational sports inside such areas are confined to 10 players at one time.
Gymnasium and futsal fields can operate but they must stick to the 10-person limit, whereas swimming pools and saunas are ordered closed during the period of the movement control order (MCO).
On inspections by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Jagdeep said that 1,350 strata schemes have been inspected with 99.53% of them found to have already enforced existing SOPs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also disclosed that some 99% of the commercial and food premises inspected by MBPP and the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) have complied with the SOPs and precautionary practices for the “new normal”. – The Vibes, November 17, 2020.
