In Hua Hin a court has decided that people who have been renting out their rooms via AirBnB on a daily and weekly basis are acting illegally.
The local authority in Khao Tao had sent a letter to the Wan Vayla condominium explaining the court’s decision in two of three cases where condos had been rented out for less than a month.
In the first case, a fine of 5,000 baht must be paid and then 500 baht for each of twenty days totalling 15,000 baht.
In the second case, a 5,000 baht fine must be paid with a further fine of 100 baht for an 81 day period.
However, there is a third case that is pending, reported Manager on Wednesday.
Last December the local authority looked into the matter and went to court.
This ruling could very well be the beginning of an end for companies such as AirBnB in Thailand who have maintained that what they are offering in Thailand is legal.
Thai visa has noted that the company has carried out training and award giving seminars on a regular basis and there are thousands of people offering their rooms for rent throughout the kingdom.
AirBnB actively promotes their business in Thailand and these setbacks from the ruling could be immense for the company and renters alike.
The court has ruled that people who rent out their rooms on a daily or weekly basis had broken laws surrounding hotels, however, people who wish to rent for 30 days or more can do so.
