Written answer by Ministry of National Development on approvals for permanent resident households to rent out bedrooms in HDB flats

Nov 9, 2022

Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for National Development

(a) what is the reason for the decline in rental approvals for HDB bedrooms being granted to permanent resident households since 2018 till to date;
(b) whether permanent resident households are always allowed to rent out bedrooms; and
(c) what have been the changes to the approval requirements over the years.

Answer:

Since 12 Jan 2013, Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) flat owners have been disallowed from renting out their whole flat. However, those that own a 3-room or larger flat are allowed to rent out their spare bedrooms. The owners and all authorised occupiers must continue to stay in the flat with the tenants while the spare bedrooms are being rented out.

2.       From 1 May 2018, all flat owners have been required to seek HDB’s approval for bedroom rental before the commencement of the tenancy. This is to ensure that the eligibility conditions are met before the tenancy commences. There has been no change to the approval requirements since.

3.       We understand that the Member is asking about the decline in bedroom rental approvals given to SPR households from 2018 to date, reflected in our written reply to the Member’s question for the sitting on 20 October 2022. The figures provided reflect the number of new bedroom rental approvals granted to SPR households in each year, and do not include SPR households who renew their bedroom rentals. The decline in the new bedroom rental approvals given to SPR flat owners could be due to various reasons such as open market forces or personal choices of the SPR flat owners.