A court in Hua Hin has effectively decided that people who rent out their rooms via AirBnB on a daily and weekly basis are acting illegally.
A letter was sent to the Wan Vayla condominium complex in Khao Tao from the local authority outlining the court’s decision in two of three cases where condominiums were rented out for less than a month.
In one case a fine of 5,000 baht must be paid and 500 baht per for each of twenty days totaling 15,000 baht.
In the second case a 5,000 baht fine must also be paid with further fines of 100 baht for an 81 day period.
A third case is pending, reported Manager on Wednesday.
The local authority looked into the matter in December of last year and went to court.
The ruling could effectively be the beginning of the end for companies like AirBnB in Thailand who have consistently said that what they are offering in the kingdom is legal.
Thaivisa notes that the company have carried out training and award giving seminars on a regular basis in Thailand and there are thousands of people offering their rooms for rent throughout the country.
AirBnB actively promote their business in Thailand and the consequences from the ruling could be immense for the company, renters and consumers alike.
The court ruled that people renting out their rooms on a daily and weekly basis contravened regulations surrounding hotels.
Rentals of 30 days and more would be legal.
The Wan Vayla condo sits on 20 rai of land in the Khao Tao area. – Manager online
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