Airbnb & Short Stays at Twin Tower: Rules and What to Check

Can you run a Twin Tower JB Airbnb? It is one of the most common questions we get from buyers, and the honest answer is: it depends on the building’s own house rules and on the national and local rules for short-term rental accommodation (STRA), which are still being finalised in late 2026. This guide explains the legal framework as it stands, what to check before you buy for short stays, how the numbers compare with a long-term tenancy, and why many Twin Tower owners choose long or mid-term rentals instead.

Is Airbnb allowed at Twin Tower Residence?

We cannot give a blanket “yes” or “no”, because the answer is set by documents that can change: the building’s house rules and by-laws, and the regulations of the authorities. What we can tell you is where the answer comes from and how to get it in writing.

1. The building’s house rules. Twin Tower Residence is a strata serviced residence. Its management body can make additional by-laws and house rules governing use of the building, including short-term letting, visitor registration and access cards.
2. National guidelines. The Housing and Local Government Ministry, through PLANMalaysia, is drafting STRA guidelines with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC), state governments and local authorities.
3. Local authority licensing. Licensing and enforcement of lodging premises fall under each state’s local authority. For Twin Tower, that is the authority covering Johor Bahru.

What does Malaysian law say about short-term rentals in condos?

The Federal Court decision on house rules

In Innab Salil & Ors v Verve Suites Mont’ Kiara Management Corporation (reported in 2020), the Federal Court upheld a house rule passed by a management corporation that prohibited short-term rentals. According to a summary by law firm Rahmat Lim & Partners, the court found the rule was validly made under section 70 of the Strata Management Act 2013 and was enforceable against owners. The practical lesson: in a strata building, the management body’s rules on short stays carry real legal weight.

The national STRA guidelines

On 26 October 2026, the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the STRA guidelines were being finalised before going to the Cabinet, as reported by The Star. Key points reported:

• The guidelines cover registration, compliance with local authority requirements, safety, cleanliness, operational management and operators’ responsibilities to the community.
• Only registered premises that meet local licensing requirements would be able to operate legally.
• Strata properties remain subject to the decisions and by-laws of their JMB or MC under the Strata Management Act 2013.
• A 180-night annual limit on STRA operations has been proposed but is still being assessed.

After Cabinet, the guidelines are expected to go to the National Council for Local Government before states and local authorities adopt them. No adoption date had been announced.

Local operating licence

In September 2025, MOTAC said short-term rental premises operating as tourist accommodation can only operate after obtaining a business operating licence from the local authority, as reported by The Vibes. Requirements can differ between councils, so check with the relevant Johor Bahru authority.

Short-term rental rules at a glance

Short stay vs long-term tenancy: how do the numbers compare?

Short stays can look attractive on a nightly rate, but the costs and the workload are much higher. Here is an illustrative comparison for a studio. The long-term figure uses the mid-point of October 2026 asking rents (RM2,650 a month). The short-stay figures are hypothetical assumptions for illustration only — not observed Twin Tower data.

The arithmetic for the short-stay column: RM3,600 − RM540 − RM540 − RM300 − RM150 − RM720 = RM1,350. To beat the long-term tenancy on these assumptions, the owner would need much higher occupancy or nightly rates, or would need to self-manage. Change the assumptions to your own and the picture can shift — but the point stands that short stays are a business, not passive income.

Why many Twin Tower owners choose long or mid-term rentals

Twin Tower Residence has a natural, steady long-term tenant base: Singapore commuters, sharing professionals, city-centre workers, room renters and small families. That changes the calculation compared with a resort-style location.

• Predictable income: a one- or two-year tenancy gives monthly rent with low effort.
• Lower wear and tear: one tenant, not dozens of guests.
• Fewer rule risks: long-term tenancies are the standard use of a residential unit.
• Strong demand drivers: the RTS Link next door, now expected to open in February 2027, and the walk to the CIQ.

A middle path some owners consider is a mid-term tenancy of a few months for project workers or people relocating — still a proper tenancy agreement, but more flexible. Whether this fits depends on the building’s rules and your agreement. See who rents here in Who Rents at Twin Tower? and current asking rents in our rent guide.

Checklist: what to verify before hosting short stays

1. Written confirmation of the building’s current house rules and any resolutions on short-term rentals.
2. Access-card, visitor registration and car-park rules for guests.
3. Local authority licensing requirements for tourist lodging in Johor Bahru.
4. Whether the national STRA guidelines have been adopted, and what registration they require.
5. Your insurance — make sure your policy covers paying guests.
6. Your loan terms — some financing agreements set conditions on how a property is used.
7. Tax: tourism tax for foreign guests and income tax on your earnings.
8. Your neighbours: noise and security concerns are the most common source of complaints.

Scenarios: which approach suits you?

If you are buying purely for income

Start with the long-term rental numbers in our rental yield guide. Treat any short-stay potential as unconfirmed until you have the building’s rules in writing.

If you want a JB base you use occasionally

Some buyers want a place to stay for a few days a month. Keeping the unit for your own and your family’s use, and letting it on a proper tenancy when you no longer need it, is the simplest route.

If you are an experienced host

Check every layer of rules first, budget for licensing and compliance, and be prepared for the guidelines to change once they are adopted.

What should Singaporean and foreign owners keep in mind?

First, check eligibility: purchases by foreigners are subject to Johor state consent and minimum-price rules (generally RM1 million), and many Twin Tower units are below RM1m. Many Singapore buyers picture letting the unit to travellers during the week and staying in it themselves at weekends. It is an understandable idea, but think it through. First, managing short stays from across the border usually means paying a co-host, which raises costs. Second, rental income earned in Malaysia must be declared, and non-resident individuals are generally taxed at a flat rate on net rental income. Third, the short-stay rules are still evolving, so an arrangement that works today may need to change once the national guidelines are adopted. For most overseas owners, a properly stamped long-term tenancy, managed with the help of a reliable agent, is the lower-stress option — and once the RTS Link opens, popping over to JB for a weekend will be easier anyway.

How to ask the management office

Put your questions in writing: Has the building passed any resolution on short-term rentals? How are access cards issued to guests? What are the visitor registration rules? Are there limits on facility use by non-residents? Keep the written reply with your purchase documents.

Unsure which strategy fits the unit you are considering? WhatsApp Darren and we will share current units, floor plans and long-term rental figures so you can compare. You can also browse our listings.

Conclusion

Whether you can run Airbnb or short stays at Twin Tower Residence depends on the building’s house rules and on STRA regulations that were still being finalised in late 2026. Malaysian courts have upheld management corporations’ power to restrict short-term rentals, and operators are expected to need local licensing. Get the rules in writing before you buy, run realistic numbers, and remember that Twin Tower’s location beside the RTS and the CIQ already gives it a strong, steady long-term rental market.

Sources

• The Star – Guidelines to regulate short-term rental accommodation being finalised (26 Oct 2026)
• The Vibes – MOTAC: short-term rental premises must get local operating licence (Sept 2025)
• Rahmat Lim & Partners – Federal Court holds house rule prohibiting short-term rentals valid
• The Edge – Malaysians exempted from tourism tax, foreigners pay RM10 flat rate
• LTA – RTS Link service targeted for February 2027 (2 Oct 2026)