While Airbnb is legal in Malaysia, condominium and apartment owners can only rent out their units on the popular home-sharing platform if it is allowed by their management's by-laws, reported Free Malaysia Today.

"Residents have to check their apartment or condominium by-laws. If the management allows it then it's ok, if they don't, then residents should abide by the relevant by-law on the matter" said Md Azmi Mohd Shari, a legal officer from the valuation and property management department at DBKL, in explaining the urban wellbeing, housing and local government ministry circular on the use of Airbnb for renting out strata properties.

"If the building's by-laws do not allow it, then residents who are aware of neighbours flouting the by-laws, should lodge a complaint with the management.” Residents flouting the by-laws may be fined by up to RM200.

According to Azmi, many management bodies have yet to make a stand on Airbnb, which is a relatively new issue, an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) or their annual general meetings (AGM).

But for Chris Chan, a condominium owner near KLCC, the issue is not in allowing Airbnb but rather in regulating it.

"Some will say that renting out a unit on Airbnb can lead to security issues, but security issues can also exist without Airbnb" she said, adding that measures should be put in place to ensure that owners declare to the management their decision to rent out their units via Airbnb.

"Perhaps every time an Airbnb guest arrives at the property, their proper ID verification should be carried out and a number of access cards given to guests could be limited.”

Property expert Ernest Cheong, however, believes that it would be hard to monitor the regulation of Airbnb.

"Security in apartments and condominiums is lax enough as it is. Once an owner passes their access card to Airbnb guests, it'll be difficult for the security guards to monitor and control their movements" he said.

"I fear that Airbnb could be misused for illicit activities and residences end up being treated like vice dens.”

"The best thing is to just ban the use of the app outright, adding that some countries have placed restrictions on Airbnb, including barring short-term rentals.”

Notably, around 11,698 accommodation providers in Malaysia are listed on Airbnb as at April 2017, with rents starting from RM44 per room per night to more than RM1,000 for an entire house that can accommodate about 10 people.