Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat
If you are a non-Malaysian non-citizen (Singapore Permanent Resident or foreigner) renting the HDB flat, you will be subject to the Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat. The quota is to help maintain a good ethnic mix in HDB estates. Malaysians are not subject to this quota in view of their close cultural and historical similarities with Singaporeans.
The quota is set at 8% at the neighbourhood level and 11% at the block level, and applicable if any tenant renting the flat is a non-Malaysian non-citizen. If the quota is reached, only Singaporeans and Malaysians can rent a flat in that neighbourhood/ block. This quota does not apply to the renting out of bedrooms.
You may use our e-Service to check if an HDB flat can be rented by non-Malaysian non-citizens. The e-Service can also be accessed via the HDB Map Services.
Rental period
You must rent an HDB flat/ bedroom for at least 6 months. Owners can apply/ register to rent out their flat/ bedrooms for a maximum period of 3 years per application/ registration if their tenants are all Singaporeans or Malaysians. For applications involving non-Malaysian non-citizens, the maximum period per approval/ registration is 1.5 years.
Maximum number of tenants and occupants
Take note of the maximum number of tenants and occupants allowed in each flat when renting the flat/ bedrooms.
From 1 May 2018, the occupancy cap for 4-room and larger HDB flats being rented out will be reduced to 6 persons, from the current maximum of 9 persons. The cap for 3-room and smaller flats remains unchanged at 6 persons and 4 persons respectively.
* Include flat owners, authorised occupiers, and tenants
^ Only bedrooms originally constructed by HDB can be rented out. All other parts of the flat (including partitioned rooms) cannot be used as bedrooms for tenants.
Source: HDB (as on 06 Feb 2018)
For more info, please visit: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/renting-a-flat/renting-from-the-open-market/subletting-regulations