Foreign Traveler Warns: Nearly All Urban Airbnbs in Taiwan Are Illegal, Guests Told to Act Like 'Thieves'

A foreign traveler has raised alarms about the prevalence of illegal Airbnb operations in Taiwan, warning that an estimated 99% of listings in urban areas are not compliant with regulations. The user shared their experience on Reddit, detailing how hosts explicitly instructed them to keep their stays secret and behave discreetly.

According to the Reddit post, guests were told not to speak with anyone and to avoid mentioning they were staying in an Airbnb. One host even advised the traveler to "act like a thief" and avoid lingering at the main entrance to prevent attracting attention. This sentiment was echoed by other foreign residents and Taiwanese locals in the comments, with some sharing instances of being asked to lie about their stay duration or to pretend they were visiting friends when encountering building security.

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You have to act like a thief, sneak around, and some even told me not to linger at the front door, to quickly grab my luggage and leave, in case someone asks questions.

Taiwan's Tourism Development Act requires short-term rental operators (under 30 days) to obtain a hotel or guesthouse license. However, in many major cities like Taipei, residential zones prohibit obtaining such licenses, leading to widespread illegal operations. While many acknowledge the illegality, they note it's a common practice. The issue highlights the challenges faced by the hospitality industry in urban areas, where regulations make legal operation difficult. Critics point out that these illegal rentals often cause disturbances like noise and damage to common areas, and in case of accidents or disputes, guests' rights are poorly protected due to the lack of safety checks and insurance.

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Although it's illegal, everyone does it... just like many illegal things in Taiwan.