Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on exceptions made for sole tenancy of public rental housing
Mar 14, 2016
Mr Alex Yam Ziming: To ask the Minister for National Development
(a) what is the breakdown of categories of exceptions made for sole tenancy of public rental housing over the last five years;
(b) how many rentals of single-tenanted flats are due to disputes between tenants; and
(c) whether there is a potential loophole where tenants create a living atmosphere that is detrimental to potential co-tenants.
Answer:
There are currently two broad categories of public rentals – those who apply as a family unit, and those apply as a singles under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS). For the families staying in rental flats, HDB will typically exercise flexibility in allowing the tenant to stay on as sole occupant in the event of the passing of a family member. For the JSS, the tenant will have to find another person to stay together, if his co-tenant passes away or withdraws from the tenancy. However, on a case-by-case basis, HDB does make exceptions for JSS rental tenants to live alone. These are mostly due to medical reasons, for instance having illnesses that leave them with low immunity to infections.
There are currently about 2,000 flats occupied by only one tenant under the JSS. Their co-tenants withdrew from the tenancy for various reasons, including marriage, death or having found alternative accommodation, and not necessarily due to disputes. HDB does not keep specific records of the reasons for the co-tenants’ withdrawal.
Tenants are given six months to find another co-tenant. We encourage them to look for someone they know, like a relative or friend. HDB also provides them with a list of single applicants, or introduces them to other single tenants of a similar profile, whom they may contact before mutually agreeing to jointly rent a flat.
If a rental tenant creates a living environment that makes joint occupation difficult, HDB can take action against the tenant under the Tenancy Agreement, including not allowing further renewal of their tenancy, and recovering the rental flat as a last resort.