Renting Out HDB
A Guide
Eligibility conditions for landlords
Only Singapore citizens who have fulfilled the 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) are allowed to sublet the entire HDB flat
Singapore citizens who have not fulfilled the MOP are allowed to sublet rooms but not the entire flat
Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR) are allowed sublet rooms but not the entire flat, even after fulfilling the MOP
You can check your eligibility to sublet the entire flat (Log in with your SingPass and go to: My Flat > Purchased Flat – Subletting > Subletting of Whole Flat)
You must apply for approval from HDB before subletting the entire flat
Rooms of HDB flats that are 3-room or larger can be sublet without prior approval from the HDB
You must notify HDB within 7 days of the commencement date of the lease
You must notify HDB of tenancy terminations, renewals, and changes to tenants’ particulars within 7 days of such changes
Non-citizen tenant quota
There is a quota for tenants who are non-Malaysian SPR and foreigners
The quota is capped at 8% at the neighbourhood level and 11% at the block level
If the quota has been reached, only Singaporeans and Malaysians can rent a flat in the neighbourhood and block
You can check the quota using HDB’s e-Service
Eligibility conditions for tenants
Subtenants must be any of the following
Singapore citizens
Singapore Permanent Residents
Non-citizens legally residing in Singapore who hold passes with a validity period of at least 6 months from the date of your subletting application
Employment Passes
S Passes
Work Permits
Work Permit holders from the construction, marine and process sectors must be Malaysians
Student Passes
Dependant Passes
Long-term Social Visit Passes
You are not allowed to rent your HDB flat to tenants who own other HDB properties, unless
They are divorced or legally separated
You can only rent to one party of the divorced or legally separated couple
Your tenants rent out their HDB flat within 1 month of renting a flat or room from you
They own an Executive Condominium and have met their 5-year MOP
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Anti-Harbouring
Homeowners who wish to rent their premises to foreigners are required to exercise due diligence in checking the immigration status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that they are in Singapore legally.
Before renting your room, flat or house, you are required to carry out the following mandatory checks:
Check his original immigration pass and/or work pass
Cross-check the particulars of his pass against the particulars on his original passport
Verify the validity of his pass by checking with the issuing authority, which is the
ICA
or
Ministry of Manpower
Total number of occupants
The number of occupants, including tenants, is limited by flat type to prevent overcrowding
For landlords subletting rooms, all owners and authorized occupiers must continue to live in the flat with the subtenants during the subletting period
Process of renting your property
Set your asking price. Consider engaging a real estate salesperson (property agent) who can assist you in pricing your rent
Check that the salesperson is registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)
Market your property. Your salesperson will assist you in this
List your property for rent
Screen the prospective tenants
Check if your property fits their criteria, such as budget, number of bedrooms, size and location
Conduct viewing
Negotiate with prospective tenants who will try to bargain
Check prospective tenants’ eligibility
Collect Letter of Intent (LOI) and good faith deposit
LOI is an offer from the prospective tenant to rent your property. It should include the following:
Name of tenant and NRIC/passport number
Lease term of usually 6 months, 1 year or 2 years
Monthy rental
Expiry of LOI.
This is the time frame, usually 7 days, for you to accept rental offer.
Good faith deposit, usually equal to one month of rent.
In return for the deposit, you cannot offer the property to another tenant.
You must return this deposit in full if you do not accept the rental offer.
You must return this deposit in full if HDB does not approve your subletting
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the Tenancy Agreement (TA) is signed
Security deposit
This is usually one month of rent for each year of lease term.
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the Tenancy Agreement is signed
This will be returned without interest to the tenant at the end of the lease, after deduction of any cost for damage according to the Tenancy Agreement.
Additional requirements. The tenant may specify requirements such as:
Permission to sublet your property
Permission to live with pets
Diplomatic clause. Under this clause, the tenant can terminate the lease after 12 months by giving 2 months notice if he is no longer employed by his employer in Singapore. The tenant must show proof of transfer to other countries or cessation of employment in Singapore
Apply for subletting approval from HDB
For the sublet of the entire flat, you must apply for approval prior to the date of commencement of the lease
For the sublet of rooms
You must notify HDB within 7 days of the commencement date of the lease
You must notify HDB of tenancy terminations, renewals, and changes to tenants’ particulars within 7 days of such changes
If HDB does not approve the subletting, the LOI will be voided and you must return the good faith deposit in full to the tenant
Tenancy Agreement (TA)
If you accept the prospective tenant’s offer, you will need to prepare the TA, to be signed by you and the tenant. This forms the rental contract
The TA should include the following:
Your name and contact details
Name of tenant and NRIC/passport number
Lease term
Monthy rental
Payment conditions
How and when you want the rental to be paid
Security deposit
This is usually one month of rent for each year of lease term.
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the Tenancy Agreement is signed
This will be returned without interest to the tenant at the end of the lease, after deduction of any cost for damage according to the Tenancy Agreement.
Terms for repairs
Inventory
Additional requirements. The tenant may have requests such as:
Permission to sublet your property
Permission to live with pets
Diplomatic clause. Under this clause, the tenant can terminate the lease after 12 months by giving 2 months notice if he is no longer employed by his employer in Singapore. The tenant must show proof of transfer to other countries or cessation of employment in Singapore
Payment of deposit and fees
Upon signing the TA, the tenant will have to pay
Security deposit, less the good faith deposit already paid
The first month of rent in advance
Payment of stamp duty
The tenant is required to pay stamp duty to IRAS to have the TA stamped within 14 days of signing it if it was signed in Singapore
The deadline for stamping is 30 days after receiving the document in Singapore if it was signed overseas
The tenant can e-Stamp online
or at these locations listed by IRAS
Inspection and handover, your salesperson can assist with this
Check each item on the inventory list with the tenant on or a few days before the date of commencement of the list
Hand over the keys
Eligibility conditions for landlords
Only Singapore citizens who have fulfilled the 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) are allowed to sublet the entire HDB flat
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