Singapore
Housing Development Board takes action against 800 errant flat owners for lease infringements
HDB took action against 800 flat owners over five years for lease violations, including unauthorized rentals and non-occupation. Penalties ranged from warnings to fines and compulsory acquisitions.
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has announced that it has taken enforcement actions against 800 flat owners over the past five years for violating lease agreements.
From 2019 to 2023, HDB addressed various lease infringements, highlighting the misuse of public housing.
Of the 800 cases, approximately 400 flat owners received written warnings, while about 330 were fined up to $50,000.
In around 70 severe cases, HDB compulsorily acquired the flats, demonstrating the seriousness of the infringements.
HDB employs several methods to detect and investigate potential infringements. These include monitoring online advertisements of flat listings, conducting routine inspections, and investigating feedback from the public and property agents. Over the five-year period, HDB carried
out approximately 29,000 routine flat inspections, averaging 500 inspections per month, and investigated 4,400 pieces of feedback on suspected lease infringements. Collaborations with other agencies also play a crucial role in sharing information relevant to these investigations.
The enforcement actions illustrate the importance HDB places on adherence to its rules, particularly during the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). Flat owners are required to physically occupy their HDB flat during the MOP before they are allowed to sell or rent out the entire flat. Additionally, owners and authorized occupiers are prohibited from acquiring any interest in private residential properties, both local and overseas, during this period.
Case Examples of Compulsory Acquisitions
One notable case involved Mr T and Ms P, who purchased a 5-room Build-to-Order (BTO) flat in 2015. Instead of occupying the flat, they resided at Ms P’s parents’ property and advertised their flat for sale in its bare condition. Due to their failure to occupy the flat during the MOP, HDB compulsorily acquired the flat.
Another case involved Mdm J, who bought a 3-room resale flat in 2018. Although she received approval to rent out one bedroom, she rented out the entire flat while living elsewhere. This unauthorized action led HDB to compulsorily acquire the flat.
In a third case, Mr S and Mdm M purchased an Executive Apartment in 2017. During the MOP, Mr S and his father bought a private residential property in trust for Mr S’s son. Despite HDB’s advice to rectify the situation, Mr S failed to comply, resulting in the compulsory acquisition of their flat.
Requirements for Flat Owners
To ensure compliance, flat owners must adhere to several key requirements. Approval from HDB is mandatory before renting out the entire flat or bedrooms. Flat owners renting out bedrooms must continue living in the flat with their tenants. Additionally, owners must adhere to the occupancy cap, which allows up to four persons in a 1/2-room flat, six in a 3-room flat, and eight in a 4-room or larger flat. Prospective tenants must meet eligibility conditions, including holding valid Employment, Student, Dependent, or Long-term Social Visit passes. Tourists are not permitted to rent HDB flats or bedrooms for short-term stays.
Unauthorized actions, such as renting out flats or bedrooms without approval, can result in significant penalties, including fines, written warnings, or compulsory acquisition of flats.
HDB emphasizes that the MOP policy is designed to ensure public housing remains accessible to genuine homeowners and to deter speculative purchases. Flat owners facing genuine circumstances that prevent them from occupying their flat during the MOP are encouraged to seek a waiver from HDB, which will assess appeals on a case-by-case basis.
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HDB: We are solving problems that we should have never have allowed to happen in the first place. Sometimes years after the fact. Praise us!
70% Cotton Sheep Pineapples: Yes HDB, you are doing a good job, we will give you more of our money.
Many public housing owners when collected the keys, they straightaway rent or sell their HDB units away. you people must be asking there is MOP to abide. But who care? The property agents are in cahoot with these new HDB flat owners to do the paperworks only after 5-year MOP.
When you see your neighbours most of the time very quiet at home and lock up their main door seldom come out, you know it!!! Some rent the unit illegally. Some buy the unit also illegally.
LOL.
Public Housing should only be for living in as it is subsidised. It is HDB that bent the rules. So they are only cleaning up their own failures. Nothing to crow about.
That minister most unhelpful one my friend ask him to help he say will help but Don bother to write in appeal third time he go there pretend nvr see my friend try to walk off and yet can take selfie with his supporters
” HDB emphasizes that the MOP policy is designed to ensure public housing remains accessible to genuine homeowners and to deter speculative purchases”
Why allow Lessors rent out their entire HDB flats? Shouldn’t these Lessors stay in their own HDB flats and rent out their private condos or landed properties? and not vie versa?
What do you think?
You pay 99 years of rental upfront.
You don’t actually own it.
Where else in the world’s functioning democracy there are their law makers COERCED it’s citizens to read Political Junk, believe in their junk, and even COERCED them buy these junk? (when these junk are not to be believed, laws like POFMA were directed)
When such a practice exists – common sense inform what’s behind these evil COERCIVE policies?
GE coming so the MIW trying to produce results for the common citizen. After GE all back to normal again, close both eyes and complains fall on deaf ears.
Luckily many voters base on Believing and allow them to learn on the job. The party has learnt for over 60 years and this is an extreme unfair advantage.
Why private apartment no MOP but HDB have?!? And the reason is…
Another of deluge of GE tell take sign. Sooooo EZ to figure out PAP stale tactics. Trash.