Teh: Short term rentals in residential areas does more harm than good

GEORGE TOWN: A Penang government backbencher has urged authorities to reconsider allowing short term rentals in residential areas.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu (pix) said such rentals in residential places bring more harm than good.

He said these rentals, like home-stays, created problems for owner-occupiers of other units who purchased their property to reside in and not for commercial purposes.

They are looking forward to a peaceful place to come back to and residential areas are not supposed to be used to conduct business, he said.

"The restrictions placed on how residential areas are used are to protect residents from noise pollution and to provide safety and security," he added and urged federal, state and local governments to resolve the issue.

Teh said his office has identified more than 10 private homes which has been turned into home-stays within his constituency.

"My office has received complaints on the matter and from people who have expressed their worries about their safety," he said in a press conference yesterday.

This issue was highlighted by theSun last week where it reported the Penang Island City Council has issued fines to owners since these units were classified as residential and not commercial.

The action however has not gone down well with those engaged in renting out their units and have instead urged the authorities to regulate the industry and not to take punitive action.

Teh was speaking after attending a Bunga Raya planting exercise to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Merdeka.

He said 500 of the plants are planted in Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Tokong and Batu Ferringhi and was organised by the Taman Seri Setia Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) and Penang Lions Club.