can tourist stay in hdb

Residential

Short-Term Accommodation

All residential properties in Singapore (e.g. condominiums, walk up apartments, flats, bungalows, semi-detached and terrace houses) are intended for long-term residence.

Under the law, they are not allowed to be used for short-term accommodation – defined as stays of less than three consecutive months. An example of short-term accommodation is when short-term visitors, such as tourists, book and stay at such properties for a few days.

The purpose of this regulation is to safeguard the safety, privacy and security of homes, and the residential character of local communities, which would be compromised by the presence and frequent coming-and-going of short-term visitors.

Guidance to property owners and tenants

It is illegal for owners and tenants to rent out their properties for short-term accommodation. This includes renting them out as ‘hotels’, ‘hostels’, ‘motels’, ‘Bed and breakfast’, or ‘Homestays’ to short-term visitors, frequently done through online ‘home-sharing’ platforms.

Property owners who fail to exercise due diligence to safeguard their properties against misuse will be held responsible. Owners are also urged to regularly check on their properties to ensure that they are not rented out by tenants for short-term accommodation.

Under the Planning Act, any individual found guilty of engaging in short-term accommodation will minimally face a fine of up to $5,000. Those who are recalcitrant or engage in short-term accommodation at multiple properties will be taken to Court. To date, many such individuals have been charged in Court, resulting in the imposition of significantly heavier fines.

More on renting out private residential properties .

Guidance to Management Corporations

Management Corporations (MCSTs) play an important role in tightening security measures to minimise the occurrence of short-term accommodation activities at their developments. For example, they can step up the screening of visitors seen carrying luggage, and note down details of their units and entry/exit dates.

URA will work closely with MCSTs to investigate suspected short-term accommodation activities. It is important that MCSTs provide accurate and up-to-date information promptly to URA. This will help expedite investigations and the ensuing enforcement actions to be taken.

Members of the public can report suspected short-term accommodation activities to URA.

Advisory for visitors seeking accommodation in Singapore

Visitors to Singapore should also take note of the regulations. For those staying less than three consecutive months, available accommodation options include hotels (no minimum stay duration) and serviced apartments (minimum stay duration of seven days).

Visitors who opt to book short-term accommodation at private residential properties may be required to assist in investigations, if they are found staying at the property during checks by the authorities.

They may also suffer inconvenience and incur additional costs for alternative accommodation as a result, as MCSTs and security officers of some developments have been actively enforcing the regulations (“NZ family that unknowingly booked illegal Airbnb stay in Singapore turned away”, The Straits Times, 15 March 2018).

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Updates in Rental Rules and Regulations in Singapore (HDB & Private Condo/EC)

by PropertyNet.SG | Feb 11, 2017

Introduction

In recent months, Singapore has rolled out new rules and regulations for renting out one’s HDB or Private Property . To save you time, we have categorised this article into HDB & Private, please click on the relevant link below to jump right into the subject of your interest:

Private Condominium / Executive Condo Rental

From 1 st January 2017 , you can no longer rent your whole HDB to non-Malaysian work permit holders from the manufacturing sector. You will only be allowed to rent out your rooms to these people.

I am currently renting out my entire HDB to non-Malaysian work permit holders from the manufacturing sector. Will this new rule affect me?

Yes. With this new rule, you will not be able to renew the lease with your existing tenants who are non-Malaysia work permit holders from the manufacturing sector.

Can I rent my entire HDB to non-Malaysia work permit holders from other sectors?

You are not allowed to rent the entire flat to non-Malaysian tenants who hold work permit from construction, manufacturing, marine, and process sectors.

Can I rent out my entire HDB to a company?

Yes. You can rent out the entire HDB to a company but you have to ensure the occupiers or the company’s employees residing in your HDB must have valid passes and the new rule applies.

Since I cannot rent out an entire flat to non-Malaysian work permit holders from construction, manufacturing, marine, and process sectors, can I rent out all my rooms through individual room rental?

No. There are maximum numbers of bedrooms you can sublet based on your flat type. For a HDB 3-room, you can only rent out 1 room. For HDB 4-room and bigger, you can only rent out a maximum of 2 rooms.

To maximise rental income, there are landlords circumventing the rules and regulations. You are strongly advised not to circumvent the rules and regulations. HDB does conduct regular checks to take enforcement action against unauthorised subletting and it’s not worth the risk.

Private Condominium / Eligible Executive Condominium

Announced by Minister Lawrence Wong on 6 Feb 2017 , it is now officially illegal to rent out whole unit or rooms for a period of less than 3 months, unless approved by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Also, you can only rent to a maximum of 6 unrelated tenants in a private condominium / executive condominium , down from the previous maximum of 8 unrelated tenants.

This new rule will take effect on 15 May 2017. On and after 15 May 2017, private residential properties can only be rented out to no more than six unrelated persons. However, existing tenancies that accommodate seven or eight persons will be allowed to run their course until the cut-off date of 15 May 2019. After this two-year transition period, the occupancy cap of six unrelated persons will apply regardless of any existing tenancy agreements.

What are unrelated tenants?

At this point of writing, we are unable to find the official definition of “unrelated tenants”, if you know the official definition, do let us know. We will also update this once we have it. Before that, from our understanding from the ground, “unrelated tenants” refers to colleagues, friends, or complete strangers etc. And that would mean “related” refers to family members, i.e., related by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship.

Can I rent out to a family with more than 6 members?

Yes. The occupancy guideline does not apply if the entire unit is occupied by a family with no subletting involved. Reference: https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/guidelines/development-control/change-use-premises/sections/yv-Permissible-Uses/Landed-Housing/subletting

Can I rent out to a family with more than 6 members, including a domestic helper?

Yes. The domestic helper has to be directly employed by the family.

Can I rent out property with 3 months lease and have a clause that allows early termination?

We are aware that there some landlords renting out their private property with the minimum contractual terms of 3 months lease but added an no penalty early termination clause to circumvent short-term leasing. We strongly advise against that as there are risks involved. Plus, these risks outweighs the rental income you can get from the short term rental.

With his love for numbers and data, Edwin has provided valuable insights to his clients and readers to empower them to make better-informed real estate decisions.

102 Comments

Hi, i’m the owner of a HDB flat, currently rent out a room to a PR tenant, can i evict this tenant within 24 hrs for nusiance cause by this tenant? nusiance cause e.g closing of doors heavily, my wife got a shock because of this, dragging of foot/thumping like he’s marching while walking (heavy walking) washing of clothes, all this are done in the middle of the night from 12a.m to 2a.m. i’ve numerous time spoken to him, be considerate as there are also other tenants & resident living beside me & below me, it seems my advise deem unperturbed, although my tenant agreement did not state this nusiance/inconsiderate/intolerable cause by this tenant, can i evict within 24 hrs. & forfeit his deposit within 24 hrs? Need your advise

Hi,may i know the work permit manufacturing sector can stay at condominiums ? Is legal ?

Hi, My landlord has a taken FDW in my address even though I have taken my whole unit for rent. He did not reveal this to me. When I applied for FDW, it got rejected. He changed his address later. But after few months he again changed it back. Am I the rightful party to take an FDW in this address? What action can i take? Please advice

I am staying with my family of 6 person (Myself + My wife + just born baby + my brother + my sister in law + just born baby + my nephew)

I want to process 1 helper to stay with us.

Is consider 7?

Regards Gyan Shukla

Hi Edwin, Are this new rules apply to landed property? I’ve 5 room in my landed

Hi, I have rented a common room on 7 April and I have signed 1year contract. But because of some issue, I need to move out after stay for 6 months. Can i check, will I be fined of breech contracts? I suppose to move out on 7 Oct but the owner want me to move out on 29 Sept ( which is not totally 6 months stay). What will going happen to me? As I have rent another rooms which I will move in on 29 Sept. Thank you

Does this new rules and regulations effect landed property? Does landed property able rent 7 Malaysian? 3 out of 7 is Singapore PR, other is S pass and WP holder. Thanks

Any update on this article especially on “related and unrelated” issue

We are a family of 4 (husband, wife, 2 small kids) 1. We want to rent a 3BR HBD or condo unit, how many more related or u related people we can let into our unit? 2. My cousin is renting a spacious 2BR condo unit. A family of 3 (unrelated to us) is occupying the other room, can we still live with on my cousin’s room?

Hi. Can i rent a condo if i already owned a hdb flat?

Hi if I’m renting out an HDB room to my tenant, is it allowed for her overseas friend to visit her and stay over in her room once a while (once a month)? No money is involved.

Hi Edwin, May I ask a few questions. I am a Spass holder and I’d like to rent HDB whole flat. I have only 2 tenants (S pass holders) including me for 3 rooms flat. (1) Can I sign with 2 tenants and other than that can I sublet 2 more people for the other room? (2) Do I need to inform landlord about subletting room before the contract start? If landlord does not agree, can I not sublet the room and cannot sign the contract? (3) There is a small utility room and can I rent it out? Is it legal or not? Also, need landlord agreement for rent the room? Thank you and waiting for your advice.

we are rented 3 rooms flat and understand that max is 6 persons. Currently total 5 persons are stay. if one of our family member come for short visit (e.g wife + baby). Is consider 7 ?

Hi, I’m Malaysian holding wp service planning to rent a whole Hdb unit with friends, which are Taiwanese holding wp service. Is there any rules and regulations I should get familiar with before doing so? And how should we proceed to the tenancy agreement for my friends might reach few weeks later but we need to get the rent going sooner. Thanks.

Would it be okay if my parents come on a short term visit pass and stay with me and my wife in our rented condo? What rules are applied here?

Hi, my company would like to rent a private condo unit for 2 of our staff to stay who are on work pass for 1 year. Do you know where I can get a tenancy agreement template for this pls? Thank you

Hi, the landlord will provide the tenancy agreement.

I move in last feb then I haven’t signed any contract. Then I want to move in now to another place because the place exceed the maximum require pax. We are 11 person now in the house. The main tenant refuse to allowed me to move in and insisting of one month notice. In the first hand I don’t have any tenancy agreement signed. Then how can i secure my deposit if refused to return?

May I know the maximum number of tenant includes the head count for new born baby too? Example: Me and my wife + 1.6 year old baby + 3 months old new born, 2 couple of friends want to rent 4 room flat (with 3 bed rooms). Does it over HDB new policy of tenant ?

Hi, technically, you would exceed the maximum number of people allowed to rent a HDB. You may contact HDB for further clarification. Their website: https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/homepage and contact number for rental matters: 1800-225-5432.

Hi Edwin, Id like to seek advise from you. I am an Spass holder and I happen to rent a room without subletting authorization. I happen to befriends with the owner of the house who also lives in the same flat with me. My concern is, one of the tenants threatened to report the illegal subletting of the room. Am I also going to be in trouble when I will be found renting the room illegally? Kindly adive. Thanks!

hello, i am an s pass holder and my friend is coming here to work from my country. She ask me about her room becaue the condo is a 7 room unit. 3 rooms good for 3 to 4 person. 4 rooms good for 2 person. it that possible?

Regardless of the size and number of rooms in a private condominium, the maximum non-related individuals allowed is 6.

Regards, Edwin Goh

I’m a spass holder and I moved into the room this Mar’18. Last monday I gave one month notice to owner to move out since the room is too hot to stay. She asked me to prepare the letter stating my reasons to move out within one month. Also she said my deposit is forfeited cos I didn’t fulfill minimum six months stay required by HDB. Again, she commented I still need to compensate six months rental fee. Our tenancy agreement doesn’t state the minimum rental period is six month but she asked me to sign on HDB regulations. 1) She has the right to forfeit my deposit? 2) Do I really need to pay six month rental fees? 3) Do I really need to prepare such kind of letter? 4) How to get back my security deposit.

First of all, is your tenancy agreement approved by HDB? You may want to call HDB directly to seek assistance.

Hi, i want to rent out my HDB which i bought in year 2016. we are Singapore PR and we are moved back to JB last year. the unit was consider fully rent out. we basically locked a utility room as saying we staying there. will it be allowed by HDB? we still went back to the unit for rental collection. but we got register the 3 bedrooms as rental income to IRAS. but we are not physical staying in the unit 24/7. will it be k?

As a Singapore PR, you are not allowed to rent out your HDB flat. More info is available at http://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/renting-out-a-flat-bedroom/renting-out-your-flat/eligibility .

I have rented my private condominium unit on a 1yr contract to a company. The company (my tenant) let their employee stay in my unit. Their employee is holding a short term social visit pass for only 1 month. After 1 month, the company may bring another employee to stay. Does this comply with government regulation? Is this considered as subletting by company? Thanks in advance.

The occupants have to stay in your condo for at least 6 months and hold a valid pass. As such, your tenant (i.e. the company) has violated the government rental regulation.

I have rented a HBD room recently. When I moved in, I found out that the room condition is bad and there is a lot of bed bug. After complaining the land lord claimed that she already caled pest control and took care of it. Eventually there are still bed bugs and despite letting her know shes not bother about it. I also found out that Im not registered by her as a tenant. How do I go about this? Which agency I can approach to get my deposit back?

You may approach the landlord’s agent to help in resolving the dispute.

what are the options available if Landlord is not taking calls/ replying for handover after notice of termination given for private condo rental

how and whom to handover if LL does not turn up and I have to leave SG

Sorry for late reply. You may contact the landlord’s agent for assistance. If you are unable to contact the agent, on the tenancy agreement, you should find the landlord’s corresponding address. You may write to the letter to formally inform him/her of your request.

Hope this helps.

I would like to know if the tenant needs to pay for the full month rental (eg. 1 Dec to 31 Dec) even though the tenant has already informed the landlord on 15 Nov that he will move out on 14 Dec, which one month notice has been given to the landlord, or the tenant just need to pay for the protated rental for period 1 Dec to 14 Dec?

I am renting whole house and renting out one room.

One of the 16 yr old girl wanna rent. Is it legal to rent to her?

She is not yet 18.

Hi Charlotte,

The 16-year-old girl has to be represented by her guardian.

My landlord is not returning the security deposit, after we did a joint inspection during the handover. She claimed I breach the law, inconvenience caused. Her definition is sometimes i bring visitor without informing. for She said i park my scooter in the living hall. She claimed my the other housemate threaten to move out because of my actions. She said i breach the law!!!! so ya she is not returning my deposit of 1500sgd.

She even ask me to pay for the repair so called “sensitive cable connection” of the dvd player which I never turn it on before. May I ask is there a law to hold my 100% deposit for inconvenience caused as compensation. I paid my rent every month, utilities and no damages done. I have made her signed the joint inspection document too. (In the beginning she refused to meet me for the hand over. She said meet down stairs). i need help. I can smell she is cooking some crap here.

You can file a claim against the landlord via the small court tribunals.

For your convenience, here’s the link for more information of filing the claim: https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/SmallClaims/Pages/GeneralInformation.aspx .

In specific, here’s a guide to tenancy dispute by small court tribunals: https://www.statecourts.gov.sg/SmallClaims/Documents/SCT%20Tenancy%20Toolkit.pdf .

Hope the above information helps you.

I have a signed a 2 years tenancy agreement on 18th Sept. the lease starts from 18th October. I have transferred the security deposit to landlord . However due to some personal reasons I need to terminate the agreement. Do I have to pay any penalty to landlord? If yes, how much would be the penalty that I might have to pay?

Asingh, do check if there’s any early termination clause in the tenancy agreement. If there is no early termination clause, you may discuss with the landlord regarding your early termination. There is no hard and fast rule to an early termination. In most cases that we have come across, the landlord would require the tenant to find a replacement tenant to take over the remaining lease. There are cases where tenants may provide X months of notice and terminate the contract prematurely. There are cases where tenants can terminate earlier and forfeiting the security deposit. However, in rare cases, the landlord may pursue the tenant for the total rents of the full tenancy period. As such, it is best that you discuss with your landlord and reach an agreement that can be accepted by you and your landlord.

thanks for the reply. The TA mentions about the early termination clause after the Lease has started. In my case the agreement is signed but starts from 18th October 2017 only. And the TA has not been stamped either. So I am wondering if the early termination clause still holds true.

The tenancy agreement is legally binding. As such, you should follow the early termination clause in the tenancy agreement.

As a side note, I came across an article “Formation of a legally binding and enforceable contract” which may be relevant for you. Link: https://irblaw.com.sg/2017/03/24/formation-legally-binding-enforceable-contract/ .

Hope this information does help you.

Thank you very much 🙂

Just to highlight that the stamping has not been done yet.

Hi ed, We are having issue with our landlord as she was claiming we did not inform her that my husband will be staying in the flat.contract stipulated 5 tenants any additional need to inform landlord..we did inform via phone now she was claiming shes not aware.basically she wanted us to payrental arrears for my husband stay..what should we do?

2. We have just learned that she didnt register one of stipulated tenant in hdb as well,we were just informed by tenants employer for pass renewal.we are not really sure what would be the impact on us by ths.

Hope you can help us so we know our option.

If discussion fails, you have to based on the tenancy agreement to sort out the dispute. However, if the names of your co-tenant is not recorded in the tenancy agreement, you may check if there’s any written record indicating that your husband will be staying in the rented property. The issue with verbal communication is that it is hard to establish its existence.

Thanks for replying ed. It seems we are dealing with a difficult LL. Was wondering if a immediate family should be a consideration,since we didnt sublet the flat and prior the signing of TA we have already agreed that there might be additional 1 pax coming.

Thanks again hopefully the issue can be resolve.

Does a tenancy agreement need to be witnessed to be ‘legal’. If not why does my currrent tenancy include space for witness names and signatures, even though they have not been completed? What if lease is remitted overseas by mail for signature by a non-resident landlord? Will lease still be enforceable by all parties if not executed on Singapore soil?

Hi Alistair

The tenancy agreement needs to be witnessed by an individual when the owner/tenant signed on the tenancy agreement.

For lease from an non-resident landlord, the lease is still enforceable by all parties even if it is not executed on Singapore soil. Please make sure that the signed tenancy agreement is stamped with IRAS.

Is a partition room legal in a private condo? Thanks

Not recommended.

I have currently rented a whole unit (2 BR) in a condo last year. My current tenure is still valid for next 6 months. Can I sublet 1 of the room with approval of the owner? What should be the minimum tenure of subletting?

With landlord’s approval, you may sublet the room to eligible tenant for a period no lesser than 3 months.

Halo, Edwin

I am holding tourist visa at the moment but I am getting my Spass. Am i elligible to rent/stay a room in a private condo? I’ve signed 3-month contract. How can I check the validation or elligibility of the contract if i feel sonething fishy? Since the contract stated nothing about the landlord or detail but name of the company & phone no. only. The rules can changes anytime and I was once threatened that the company can terminate or change the signed contract anytime.

Your reply will be so much appreciated. Cause I dont know where to consult about this.

You can ask for the proof of property ownership from the agent who represents the landlord. Alternatively, you can purchase the information from https://www.sla.gov.sg/inlis/#/ . With the proof of ownership, make sure that the name on the tenancy agreement and the proof of ownership document match.

After you and the landlord has signed the tenancy agreement, you can stamp the document with IRAS at https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/default.aspx . After stamping the tenancy agreement with IRAS, the tenancy agreement will be legally enforceable.

In general, the terms and conditions of a valid tenancy agreement are rarely changed, and if there are any changes needed, landlord and tenant usually have discussed it and agreed upon it before it supersedes the existing clauses.

Hi, me and my friend had signed a lease for 6 months starting in august. Now, I have not been able to come to Singapore due to visa issues. I had to pay the August month rent and security deposit without even staying in Singapore. There is no clause in the contract regarding cancellation. What happens if I don’t pay the rent for the upcoming month? I willing to let go of my deposit claim

AS there is no clause regarding cancellation, it is best for you to discuss with your landlord on the available options. Technically, the landlord has the right to pursue damages against you for failing to fulfill the contractual agreement. However, in most cases, landlord is willing to explore options with you than taking the legal route.

Hi, I am visiting Singapore on a social visit pass permits me up to 89 days. My friend has permission for me to stay in his apartment which is rented. Is there any law which states that foreign visitors cannot stay in a private property residence and must stay in a hotel when visiting Singapore on a visitor pass. Thank you

Hi Francis,

If you are putting up at a friend’s place with no monetary transaction, it is generally acceptable.

Can we have 1 unrelated tenant if we are a family of 5 (wife, husband, 4yrs old kid, sister, cousin) plus helper? That would mean 7 pax including the kid & the helper.

Appreciate your response.

Thank you very much.

My apologies for taking some time to response as I was traveling. Technically, no. However, you may want to check with URA if you are able to do so given your circumstances. Here’s the link to get in contact with URA: https://www.ura.gov.sg/feedbackWeb/contactus_feedback.jsp?topic=others .

Hello, Is it possible to have 3 main tenants in the same unit.

I rent a whole unit sharing with 2 other friends. Now I’m a main tenant but we all would like to be the main tenants.

Can the landlord change the 2 occupants to be the main tenants?

Landlord can enter into 3 separate tenancy agreements with 3 of you. Usually, this would be the case for room rental.

Also, do note that you have to do stamping for each of the tenancy agreements signed.

I want enquire regarding the new occupancy cap for renting a 4 bedroom condo unit at teresa ville condo located at Lower Delta Road.

Currently we are 8 pax renting the unit. (3 pax related to each other as family, also 3 pax related as family and 2 our close friends).

Accordind to our agent. We cannot renew our contract due the new policy with the maximum 6 pax.

Can you explain to me what is the new policy all about with relation with our situation.

Based on URA’s guideline as of 15 May 2017, a landlord can only rent out his private condo to a maximum of 6 unrelated occupants. However, you may want to clarify with URA if it is possible for your group to co-rent the private condominium. Here’s the link to get in contact with URA: https://www.ura.gov.sg/feedbackWeb/contactus_feedback.jsp?topic=others .

Can a construction under S pass rent the rooms in the unit?

Hi Michelle,

S-Pass is OK to rent residential properties in Singapore.

Is it acceptable to sign an agreement as per below –

Total rental period is 12 months with minimum stay of 6 months, providing that in Tenancy Agreement the following is mentioned: “Rental agreement can be terminated without penalty beyond xx date based on the tenant’s notice of termination of the lease, handed in 30 days before the departure date. The landlord will be compensated ONLY for that part of the agency commission corresponding to the tenancy period that was voided (pro-rated amount)”

The clause is generally acceptable.

I am about to enter into a subletting arrangement to lease a condo room from a master tenant.

The condo unit has 2 bedrooms. Master tenant (and her partner) stay in master bedroom while I will be staying in the common room.

The master tenant said she will inform the landlord of this arrangement.

I read from a website that legally there can only be one tenancy agreement with respect to a rented private property, and that ideally all tenants should enter into agreement with the owner only.

Can you please advise what I can do to protect my right as a tenant? Should I ask for a copy of the master tenancy agreement (to ensure they indeed have the right to sublet) and ask for the contact details of the owner?

Also, can the master tenant legally lodge the sublet agreement with the relevant authority?

Is there exit clause for renting a HDB unit for 1 year? What is the termination notice period?

Hi Patricia,

I assume that the tenancy agreement is between the landlord and tenant, where both are individuals (i.e. the landlord is not HDB). If that is the case, most standard tenancy agreement does come with the exit clause (or early termination). However, the insertion/deletion of exit clause or terms & conditions of exit has to be discussed prior to the commencement of the tenancy (or signing of the tenancy agreement). In the event that the exit clause is not written in the tenancy agreement, the landlord and tenant can negotiate to reach a mutually agreed exit conditions.

Hi, is new EC under the subletting of 6 unrelated tenants rule or under HDB rule of able to rent up to 2 rooms (or up to 9 occupants for 4 room and above) since EC is still under HDB control before privatised 10 years later?

I called up HDB and the answer provided is to follow the HDB rule. I’m staying in 5 room EC.

You can’t go wrong after checking with HDB =)

Hi, I know this might be a big topic and slightly off tangent but if someone is subletting a room that I am interested in, what do I need to be wary of / check?

Can also point me to a relevant article / checklist if this has been discussed before.

Based on our interpretation of your statement, we assumed you are the landlord and your tenant would like to further sublet a room. If that’s the case, the checks would be similar to when you sublet your room to that tenant. Basically, the sub-tenant has to be eligible to rent a residential property in Singapore according to HDB/URA rules & regulations. You have to make sure the sub-tenant also fulfill the minimum lease required by the regulatory.

Hope this answers your questions.

Hi I come across corporate apartment platform that rent out apartments for asset owners on short term basis. Are these in line with URA regulations?

There are another class of residential premises called serviced apartments. They can be rented out for a min of 7 days or longer. For details, you may refer to https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/guidelines/development-control/change-use-premises/sections/guidelines-different-uses/accomodation/accommodation/Serviced%20Apartment.aspx .

Recently I rented a condo from landlord(2Months) I’m staying alone in master bed room. now in the condo still have 2 rooms is empty and 1 small utility room is empty. can I become sublandlord to rent out the 2 empty rooms? is that legal to rent out the small utility room for stay? Please Advise.

Thanks Jacky

Just to be sure about your “2 months”, do you mean you have been renting for 2 months? If that is, it is good. If you are meaning renting for “2 months”, please be reminded that minimum lease for private property is 6 months.

To your question “can you sublet the 2 empty rooms?”, you have to discuss with your landlord and seek his/her permission to sublet the 2 empty rooms. There is no issue renting out the utility room as long as someone is willing to take it. In the event that your landlord agrees to you subletting, please be reminded to sublet to individuals who are eligible to lease a private residential property in Singapore and have the relevant tenancy documents done proper and lodged with relevant authorities.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Hi there Edwin,

What if I put my property on Airbnb but set the minimum stay to 180 days (6 calendar months)? Would that be considered illegal because it’s listed on Airbnb or would it be okay because it fulfills the minimum lease time of 6 consecutive months?

As long as you fulfilled the minimum lease of 6 consecutive months for the same tenancy agreement, there will be no issue. Please be reminded to stamp your tenancy agreement with IRAS.

Just want to clarify cause sometimes I read that the minimum lease cannot be lesser than 3 months and sometimes cannot be lesser than 6 months.

Am working under s pass and my husband Working under wp marine sector

It’s been 2 yrs we both stay separate because of financial issues

But now we decided to stay together but since my husband working in wp ,how to add him in hdb unit

Is there any option that wil let me n my husband stay together ?

Hi, I have few qns below for HBD rental. Hope u can assist me.

1) above mention that if rent whole flat to company, but the company function was either construction, manufacturing, marine, or process sectors. will it be still legal for me to rent?

2) almost same to above qns, instead of company, if i rent whole flat to Malaysian & they then sublet out the house to non-Malaysian who are working in construction, manufacturing, marine, and process sectors. Is it still legal?

3)“Related” refers to family members, i.e., related by blood – related by blood which mean cousin (either side of family) & in-law?

It is the owner’s responsibility to verify that the tenants are eligible to stay in your HDB flat and these includes “sub-tenants”. For example, if the company houses its employee who does not qualify to stay in the HDB flat, it is considered breaching the rules of HDB.

Henceforth, before you lease out your HDB flat to the whoever tenant, you have to explicitly make known to them (i.e. the company) that they have to update you on the individuals who will be staying in your flat and provide you with the individual’s identification documentation for verification.

To your last question, yes, related by blood should include your in-laws and cousin.

Does this rules of max 6 pax applies to students under a single guardianship care? Example as in a pte condominium. As they were under single guardianship, are they consider as related?

Would you be able to elaborate on the term “single guardianship care”? What does the role of the students’ guardian entail? In addition, is the guardianship backed by any form of legal documentation?

Don’t you think it is unfair to allow HDB 4 rooms and bigger to have max of 9 pax, but private (regardless of no. of rooms) only 6. They are not compatible.

Hi Eng Khong, we note your point. However, like you, we are unable to make changes to the rental rules and regulations set by the government =)

I have rented my unit on a 1yr contract in a private condo to a company that sublets it. The company (my tenant) assures me that all their contracts of sublet are for at least 6 months. I request copies of NRICs/Passes of subletting tenants, from which I can see that these people are allowed to be in Singapore.

What other proof do I need to get from my tenant (the company subletting)? What if the ICs send to me are not the ones of the subletting people?

Where does my responsibility stops and where is my tenant (the subletting company) responsibile in order to operate within the new regulations?

You have done a good job to ask for the identification of the occupiers. You may want to cross-check the validity of their identification via:

http://ienquiry.ica.gov.sg/index.do (For NRIC, Student Pass or Long Term Social Visit Pass) https://wponline.mom.gov.sg/WPOLLoginController?action=WPOLLoginAction&actionType=WPOLNonLogin (For Work permit) https://eponline.mom.gov.sg/epol/PEPOLUAMT012DisplayAction.do (For S Pass or Employment Pass)

It is also important to match the faces of the identity card owners. In event that you discover that the identity cards do not match the tenants, you have the right to evict “illegal” tenant. For the subletting agreement, you may enforce that all subletting agreement is subjected to your approval to ensure that the subletting agreement does not breach the main tenancy agreement and is in accordance with rental rules and regulations set by Singapore governing agencies. Lastly, if you have done your due diligence, like ensuring the eligibility of tenant to stay in the premises, lease not less than 6 months etc., you would have done your part. Alternatively, you may engage a professional real estate salesperson to handle your rental.

My current tenant wants to extend the existing 6-month tenancy (with 2 months left) by 3 months. Is the new tenancy with 3 months extension considered as short term rental?

The extension is OK. But do remember to pay the stamp duties =)

Regards, Edwin

My husband is working in overseas so now I’m staying with one domestic worker and 2 kids. How many tenent can we have? We have 5 bed rooms. Thanks

As of now, you still can rent out to 4 more pax. We will update this article once URA announce its new rental regulations. So do keep an eye on that.

Hi,why is it that non-Malaysian work permit holders cannot rent entire HDB from other sectors rather than the one you’ve mentioned in the article?

HDB’s rationale is that Malaysian work permit holders can rent HDB flats and rooms “due to the close historical and cultural similarities between Malaysians and Singaporeans.

I have 3 questions and hope that you can let me know the answers as follows : 1. Does the maximum 6 unrelated tenant apply to landed private property? 2. If the existing contract is still running under the old maximum of 8 unrelated tenants does it mean that it is immediately illegal? 3. If the tenant consist of 4 married couples, does it fall under related tenants?

Hi Jasmine, to your questions: 1) The maximum of 6 unrelated tenants applies to all private residential property (including landed property). 2) The existing lease can carry on until your existing tenancy agreement expires. For renewal or new lease, it has to fulfil the new rules. You may want to note that this new rule is not yet effective. Once URA announces its effective date, we will update this article again. 3) “Related” refers to family members, i.e., related by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship. So, the 4 couples must be from the same family to be “Related” tenants.

Does the rule apply to landed property. Can I do short term rental for landed property.

Hi Roger, this rule applies to all private residential properties in Singapore. So, the rule is also applicable to landed property. You may want to also note that the new rules for private residential are not yet effective. Once URA announces the date the new rules will be effective, we will update this article again.

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HomeSeekers and HomeMakers

Is it legal for my relative to stay at my house?

Thread starter silphscope
Start date Feb 6, 2014

More options

Feb 6, 2014

Hi, I have a relative who rented out his house and is staying with me now. Recently, he got a letter from ICA to update his IC address. Is it legal for him to stay at my house for the time being? I thought should be nothing leh, how come got letter from ICA one? I don't wanna get into any trouble sia...

Senior Member

You won't get any trouble by letting your relative to stay in your house, but your relative must update his address with ICA within 28 days.

Master Member

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=141&secid=72 Under the National Registration Act, an Identity Card (IC) holder is required to report his/her change of residential address within 28 days. ========== last yr , there are few cases, ppl got charge under this ACT.

Thanks! Coz I let him stay for free, never collect rent and didn't officially register with HDB for him to stay here. Will daiji anot? Liddat I invite other strangers come my house stay after they rent out my house also won't kena issit?

Feb 7, 2014

By right you should inform HDB there is another occupier in your home.

Arch-Supremacy Member

silphscope said: Hi, I have a relative who rented out his house and is staying with me now. Recently, he got a letter from ICA to update his IC address. Is it legal for him to stay at my house for the time being? I thought should be nothing leh, how come got letter from ICA one? I don't wanna get into any trouble sia... Click to expand...

Feb 8, 2014

Just be legal. Inform hdb and ica. Dun get yrself into trouble. Ica and hdb charge u to court one.

High Supremacy Member

For hdb side better add him as occupier. Think can do it online via myhdbpage. For ica side, clarify whether his ic should state the address of his flat (which he does not live in) or the address of the flat (your place) that he lives in. As long as u have done your due diligence no one can find fault with u.

Feb 10, 2014

Actually u don't need to worry or do anything. It's your house and you can let anyone stay in there. Your relative can just update his own address. Although he rent out his house but don't think hdb or ica will actually care if he really staying at there or not.

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How to Make Your Neighbours (And HDB Officials) Love You in 12 Easy Ways

Maelyn Lagman

April 3, 2024

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Finding a home can be difficult, and moving in may be more exhausting than you think, but nothing is worse than realising you’ve spent half of your life savings on a new home only to live next to a neighbour who slams their gate daily, fills the corridor with bulky bicycles or caged birds, or disposes of literally anything out their window, posing as a safety hazard for the rest of the block.

If that sounds like a nightmare to you, then you should make sure you’re not that kind of neighbour either.

You don’t have to clean your whole block twice a month like this middle-aged woman in Tampines . All you have to do is abide by HDB’s rules so you can keep your neighbours safe and avoid run-ins with the authorities.

1: Do not obstruct the corridor with your personal belongings
2: Do not smoke in the corridor, stairwell or void deck
3: Do not walk around your flat in the nude with your windows wide open for all to see you
4: Do not keep a cat in your HDB flat

Here are the 62 HDB-approved dog breeds

6: Do not throw your trash outside your window
7: Bag your trash before disposing of it in the rubbish chute
8: Do not hang dripping-wet laundry outside
9: Keep things quiet from 10.30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
10: Do not list your home for rent on Airbnb
11: Do not use your flat as an office for your big-scale business

#12: Do not have more than 3 tuition students at a time in your flat

Looking for your own hdb flat, here are the 12 rules you should follow if you’re living in an hdb flat, #1: do not obstruct the corridor with your personal belongings.

That includes potted plants, bicycles, bird cages or what have you. Not only will clutter block the area’s accessibility, but it will also make it look aesthetically displeasing.

If you own a corner unit, you shouldn’t treat the generous space outside your house as your personal storage room. That means, keep your spare bicycle wheels and cleaning supplies inside.

Don’t get carried away with the space and start setting up your own cafe nook there, either. It is not your balcony; other people will still need to access it to get to a staircase or a lift. So those chairs and tables will have to stay in your kitchen.

Speaking of staircases, it should be clear of stuff too. Leaving anything there may hinder search and rescue attempts by authorities, and block you and your neighbours’ escape routes, in case of fire or other emergencies.

#2: Do not smoke in the corridor, stairwell or void deck

Despite the large warning labels on cigarette packaging, there’s no stopping those who want to smoke from smoking. And you know what, fair enough. You do you , as they say. Just don’t smoke in the corridor where the smoke can travel into your neighbour’s living room where their baby could be sleeping.

You’re not allowed to smoke in the stairwell or void deck, either.

Aside from these places, you should be good.

#3: Do not walk around your flat in the nude with your windows wide open for all to see you

Singapore may be progressive about certain things, but not public nudity. That means, you have the liberty to be as au naturale as you want inside your home, but not when other people can see you.

Invest in some curtains instead and remember to draw them before stepping out of your clothes or towel. If you’re caught walking around nude in your flat and flashing your neighbours, you can be arrested and fined at least $2,000 under Section 27A of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act.

#4: Do not keep a cat in your HDB flat

Sadly, you’re still not allowed to keep a cat in your flat. Though Nee Soon GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Ng tried really hard to get it reviewed by Parliament.

According to HDB, cats are not allowed in flats because “they are generally difficult to contain” and “tend to shed fur and defecate or urinate in public areas when allowed to roam indiscriminately”. Oh, and they “make caterwauling sounds”, which can inconvenience your neighbours. (Not that dogs don’t shed fur or bark, but that’s beside the point.)

On the other hand, dogs are allowed to be kept in HDB flats. But only one. And only of a certain kind.

#5: Do not keep more than one dog, and only if they’re of a breed approved by HDB

You are allowed to keep only one dog in your flat, and it must be one of the 62 breeds that HDB listed here .

Your pet dog must also be licensed by the NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) .

Other pets you can keep are fish, hamsters and birds.

#6: Do not throw your trash outside your window

It may seem more convenient to dispose of your trash out your window, but it’s not the cleanliest nor the safest way to do so.

Whether it’s smaller items such as a candy wrapper, tissue or noodles , or bigger ones such as books or bags of clothes , it is unsafe. It’s also littering, which is bad for the environment, and most importantly, illegal .

Speaking of throwing trash…

#7: Bag your trash before disposing of it in the rubbish chute

You can easily find rubbish chutes in HDB flats and blocks. If you live in an older flat, you’ll find a rubbish chute inside your home, and if you live in a newer flat, it will be near your floor’s lift. So why throw something out the window when trash disposal is already made so convenient?

That said, do put your trash in a bag before chucking them in there, even if it’s just your parcel package. But don’t put too much at one time or it will all be stuck there and you’ll have a whole other problem on your hands.

Remember: Do better!

#8: Do not hang dripping-wet laundry outside

Laundry hanging on bamboo poles is pretty much the picture of HDB living. It’s part of the HDB lifestyle and everyone does it. That’s not the issue.

The issue is if you hang your laundry to dry outside and it is dripping wet. You should drain any excess water from your clothes before hanging them to dry so you don’t get the drying clothes on the floor below yours wet too.

#9: Keep things quiet from 10.30 p.m. to 7 a.m.

We get it: When you’re belting out Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing on karaoke with your BFFs, you may not feel time passing. But you really should because once the clock strikes 10.30 p.m., you have to keep things down. Be conscious of those around you and avoid playing music too loudly or holding social gatherings late into the night, like playing card games and drinking on a stairwell .

Renovation works are also not allowed to occur between 10.30 p.m. and 7 a.m.

HDB has received 3,200 noise-related complaints a month in 2021, up from around 400 a month in 2019. Let’s all work together to bring that number down and be mindful of each other’s needs, i.e. rest, sleep, peace.

#10: Do not list your home for rent on Airbnb

If you don’t know this yet, now you do: short-term rentals are illegal. That means putting up your flat for rent to tourists on Airbnb is also a no-go.

The minimum rental period is 6 months for HDB flats (3 months for private housing) and they cannot be rented out to tourists. Read this quick guide on regulations for renting a property in Singapore.

#11: Do not use your flat as an office for your big-scale business

If you’re a freelance artist, photographer or writer, you are allowed to work from home. This is according to HDB’s Home-Based Small Scale Business Scheme .

If you bake or sew for a living, do hairdressing, or if you’re a nail technician and offer mani-pedi services, you’re also allowed to run your business at home.

You do not need to seek approval from HDB for the above-mentioned small-scale businesses.

What’s not allowed, however, is businesses that involve the hiring of workers as third parties and non-resident employees are not allowed to work in the flat. A home-based business must be operated by the flat owner, though, or a registered occupant or tenant (with the owner’s consent, of course).

Massage services are not allowed in HDB flats as well. (If you want a massage at home, just get your family or friends and cook them up a meal as payment.)

Speaking of services…

Tuition centres exist for a reason, one of them being so you won’t have to set up one at home. So if you provide tuition services, you should only be teaching three students at a time to reduce the noise coming from the kids you’re teaching. Because we all know, studying or not, children can make a lot of noise.

Let Ohmyhome’s smart data-matching technology MATCH you with the right home, according to your specific needs. Submit your preferences to us and our algorithm will filter all our available listings based on those, and we’ll WhatsApp them to you once we find a match. We’ll also send you relevant content that you can use for your research and inform your home buying decision, so you no longer have to spend hours searching online for the information that you need. Because at Ohmyhome, we’re always by your side, always on your side.

You can also call us at 6886 9009 to secure an appointment with any of our Super Agents or message us in the chatbox at the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen. You can also WhatsApp us at 9755 9283!

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Renting out your hdb flat: a homeowner's guide.

Renting out your flat for additional income?

This guide will help you with the process of renting out your HDB flat in the open market.

Requirements to take note of

Homeowner's requirements

Rent your flat only to eligible tenants
Ensure that your tenants are staying in Singapore lawfully (while the tenancy contract is in force)
Ensure that your tenants do not rent out the flat to other persons
Make sure that your tenants comply with all the covenants in the lease and the provisions of the Housing and Development Act. You are responsible for all infringements, if any, by your tenants
Inform HDB of any changes in the tenancy
If you are only renting out your bedrooms : The owners and all authorized occupiers must continue to live in the flat with the tenants during the period of renting out. In the event that the owners and all authorized occupiers do not live in the flat, the registration for the renting out of bedrooms shall be revoked automatically and the renting out will be deemed as renting out of the whole flat without HDB’s approval and action will be taken against the flat owners under the Housing & Development Act.
The tenancy contract is terminated
You are no longer eligible to rent out your flat
Your flat is repossessed by HDB

The property tax will be revised when you rent out your HDB flat. For the applicable property tax rate and the procedure to notify IRAS, please refer to IRAS' website .

Step 1: Advertise your flat

Advertise your flat on the Internet, newspapers, or through an estate agent.

Step 2: Check Non Citizen Rent Out Quota

To check if the flat can be rent out to all or only Singaporeans/Malaysians

Step 3: Check if your tenant is eligible

You may rent your HDB flat to the following types of tenants:

Singapore citizens
Singapore permanent residents
Employment pass
Work Permit holders from Construction, Marine and Process sectors must be Malaysians. Work Permit holders from the Manufacturing sector must also be Malaysians if renting a whole HDB flat.
Student pass
Dependant pass
Long term social visit pass

If your potential tenant is a foreigner, please verify their immigration status on ICA's website . You may also check their employment pass or S pass validity on MOM's website . You may not rent your HDB flat to parties who own other HDB properties, unless

The parties are divorced / legally separated (you may only rent to 1 party of the divorced / legally separated couple).
Your tenants rent out their property within 1 month of renting a flat/bedroom from you.
If they own an executive condominium unit elsewhere, your tenants must meet their minimum occupation period before they can rent from you.

Step 4: Obtain approval from HDB or notify HDB

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HDB Extension Of Stay Guide

HDB Extension of Stay is something that is very common in the resale market, and you might have heard about this before.

So, what exactly is HDB Extension of Stay and how does it help Sellers or affect Buyers?

HDB Extension of Stay is a period of extension granted to the Sellers to continue staying in the flat after completing the HDB sale transaction.

An Extension of Stay gives Seller’s sufficient time to complete their next property purchase, or renovate their next home before moving over.

We’ve summarized the important things you need to note when entering into an Extension of Stay:

Extension of Stay Agreement

When does extension period start, maximum extension duration, hdb regulations.

Extension Fees & Costs

Extension of Stay Disputes

The best practice to get an Extension of Stay is for Sellers and Buyers to agree with the Extension when negotiating the offer for the sale and purchase.

This will allow all parties to factor in the required Extension together with the selling and buying price, so as to make a better decision on the offer.

Hence, sellers should make known that they require an Extension of Stay, and let the buyer know how many months are required..

And buyers should also ask and confirm with sellers whether do they require any extension, before putting up an offer to buy a HDB flat.

In almost all cases, Extension of Stay is usually on rent-free basis for the sellers, which means that buyers will not be collecting any monetary rental compensation from the sellers.

Sellers and Buyers should sign an Extension of Stay Agreement, so that all conditions of the Extension are penned down and acknowledged by both parties.

An Extension of Stay period starts from the HDB Completion Date.

Which means that the Extension starts from the day the HDB Resale Transaction for the flat is completed.

Eg. If HDB Completion Date is on 1 March, a 3 months extension will mean that the buyers have to allow sellers to stay in the flat until 1 June.

You can check out our guide on HDB Resale Timeline to further understand the entire timeline for selling and buying a HDB flat.

Getting an Extension of Stay doesn’t mean the sellers can stay infinitely until their next house is ready for them to move into.

Under HDB regulations, an Extension of Stay can only be a maximum of 3 months.

Thereafter no further Extension will be granted and seller must handover the flat to the buyers, as buyer’s HDB Minimum Occupation Period will start immediately after the Extension.

HDB has put in place certain regulations that Sellers and Buyers must agree in order for Extension of Stay to be granted.

Here are the regulations you should take note of:

Extension Regulations for Sellers

• Sellers must have committed to another property purchase in order to get HDB’s approval for the Extension. (The Exercised Option to Purchase contract for their purchase must be submitted to HDB)

• Sellers cannot rent out the flat during the Extension period, and the flat can only be occupied by the sellers and their rightful occupiers.

Extension Regulations for Buyers

• Buyers have to pay HDB an administrative fee of $20 for the Extension of Stay processing.

• Buyer’s 5 Years HDB Minimum Occupation Period will only start after the end of the Extension.

• Buyers will have to pay non-rebate Town Council Service & Conservancy Charges.

• Buyers will be billed Property Tax at Non-Owner Occupied Rate for 3 months. This rate will be at 10% of the property’s annual value, and hence it will be higher than the usual Owner Occupied rate.

Extension Fees & Costs

There will be fees and costs billed to the buyers, and normally these fees will be reimbursed by the sellers to the buyers in view of being fair to the buyers for allowing sellers to have an Extension of Stay.

Below are what sellers should reimburse the buyers:

HDB Extension of Stay Fee

Service & Conservancy Fee

Pro-rated to the duration of the Extension of Stay

Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax

Though unlikely to happen, Sellers and Buyers need to know that HDB will not interfere with any disputes between both parties should there be any.

Therefore sellers and buyers should keep proper Extension Agreement records and HDB Extension documents, so as to protect yourself in an event of unexpected dispute.

An Extension of Stay is very common in the resale market.

This is especially so for Sellers who are selling and buying, upgrading and downgrading their HDB flat..

And such sellers will almost certainly require a maximum of 3 months extension for their selling, as not getting an extension will result in them having no place to stay once their selling transaction is completed.

So for sellers, if you require Extension, it is a must to include this as part of the negotiations with the buyers before accepting any offers.

As for buyers, if a flat seller requires Extension but you are unable to give an Extension, you will probably need to forgo that flat and not put up any offers to the sellers.

Throughout our years of helping clients with their HDB selling & buying, we have successful navigated countless Extension of Stay for sellers and buyers without encountering a single dispute.

If you are planning to Sell your HDB, do check out how we can give you a reliable HDB selling experience !

Want instant answers for your HDB resale plans? Ask us now!

Get quality hdb selling advice, get quality hdb selling advice., let's give you the best, quality hdb resale advice.

The one thing you'll want to do is the only thing not to do while driving during solar eclipse

The 2024 solar eclipse will shroud much of the United States in darkness on Monday, leaving many people to wonder: Is it safe to drive during the celestial event?

We know Americans should wear certified eclipse glasses when looking directly at the eclipse. And millions of Americans are in the eclipse's path of totality , the moment that occurs when the moon completely blocks the sun's light from reaching us. During totality, the eclipse can be viewed with the naked eye.

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path. If you plan to drive during this time, you may not only have to contend with traffic , but need to take steps to stay safe.

Here's what to know about driving during the eclipse.

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Is it safe to drive during an eclipse?

It's safe to drive during an eclipse as long as you don't look up at the sky. AAA is telling drivers to be focused on the road if they are operating a car during the total solar eclipse.

"Anyone operating a vehicle should not be attempting to look up at the sky during the eclipse – their eyes should be on the road," said Aixa Diaz, a spokeswoman from AAA.

The automobile insurance company is advising Americans who want to safely view the total eclipse to "find a safe place to park (not on the side of a road or highway) away from other traffic and then wear your eclipse glasses," Diaz said.

Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving

It should go without saying, but authorities are also reminding people to not drive while wearing eclipse glasses .

The Missouri and Texas departments of transportation are both advising drivers to not wear eclipse glasses during the natural phenomenon and to focus on the road.

"Do not wear eclipse glasses while driving," reads a list of safety tips from the Texas department. Thousands people are expected to drive to towns along the path of totality, including Dallas, ahead of the eclipse.

Several state transportation departments released similar warnings ahead of the 2017 total solar eclipse. Wyoming's, for example, warned people traveling to the state about how they wouldn't be able to see the road with solar eclipse glasses on.

"When the glasses are worn, a person shouldn’t be able to see anything except the solar eclipse, which is why it is unsafe for a person to wear them when driving," the warning reads.

"Eclipse glasses are for eclipse viewing, not driving. They shouldn’t be treated like normal sunglasses," Diaz said.

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The Asian Traveller

Ashley Tham

SINGAPORE: Prices of Housing Board (HDB) resale flats rose by 1.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, higher than the 1.1 per cent growth in the previous quarter.

Flash estimates released by HDB on Monday (Apr 1) also showed Q1 resale volume, up to Mar 27, had risen 5.5 per cent to 6,928 cases from 6,567 cases in the same period last year.

HDB noted that the resale market is stabilising with prices rising by 4.9 per cent in 2023, as compared to the 10.4 per cent increase in 2022 and the 12.7 per cent increase in 2021.

Among the cooling measures implemented in December 2021 , September 2022 and April 2023 to promote a stable and sustainable property market were a wait-out period of 15 months before private property owners could purchase a non-subsidised HDB resale flat and the lowering of loan-to-value limit for HDB housing loans.

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Property analysts attributed the HDB resale price growth in Q1 to several factors, including private property owners exiting their 15-month wait-out period before buying resale flats.

"In January 2024, the first wave of ex-private property owners who were observing the 15-month wait-out period to buy 5-room and larger flats entered the market," said Huttons' senior director of data analytics Lee Sze Teck.

"Based on caveats lodged, the volume of 5-room and larger flats in 1Q 2024 were higher than 4Q 2023 by almost 10 per cent."

Mr Lee noted that the stronger demand for five-room and larger flats in the first quarter saw their prices appreciate by a faster pace and pushed up the overall prices of resale flats.

ERA Singapore CEO Marcus Chu added that the demand for resale flats in mature estates "is still going strong and as a result, some of them have achieved record selling prices".

Mohan Sandrasegeran, head of research and data analytics at Singapore Realtors Inc (SRI), also observed the expiration of the wait-out period may have allowed some private property sellers to enter the HDB resale market and "possibly contributing to the observed increase in resale transactions and prices".

This translated to a rise in the number of HDB resale transactions exceeding the million-dollar mark in Q1 and for the fifth straight quarter, according to property analysts.

Data by PropNex and SRI showed that there were 185 such transactions, an increase from 133 in the previous quarter.

Mr Lee also noted two 5-room flats at a Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project in Toa Payoh were sold for more than S$1.5 million (US$1.1 million) in January - a record price.

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Private property prices.

Private home prices in Singapore also rose 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, slower than the figure of 2.8 per cent in the previous quarter, according to flash estimates released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Monday.

The volume of transactions fell by about 20 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis and by about 16 per cent on a year-on-year basis in Q1.

"This continues the trend of declining transaction volume, where total yearly transaction volume for 2023 was already the lowest since 2016," said URA.

Mr Lee added this is the slowest quarterly price gain since the third quarter in 2021, "pointing towards stability in the housing market".

He said transaction volume in the first quarter of the year is lower by about 20 per cent quarter-on-quarter, largely pulled by the resale and subsale market due to the large completion of private homes in 2023.

However, the high interest rates in the resale and subsale market are causing some buyers to "pause and see if interest rates will ease", noted Mr Lee, leading to a decline in volume by almost 30 per cent in this quarter compared to the previous quarter in 2023.

"Prices of non-landed properties increased by 1 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the 2.3 per cent increase in the previous quarter," said URA.

Ms Christine Sun, senior vice president of research and analytics at OrangeTee and Tie, noted that the proportion of new home sales, excluding executive condominiums (ECs), went up from 25.4 per cent in Q4 2023 to 31 per cent in Q1 2024, while resales decreased to 62.3 per cent from 65.5 per cent.

"Therefore, price growth was still positive last quarter since new homes are usually priced higher than resale," she said.

The prices of non-landed properties in the outside central region (OCR) increased by 0.4 per cent compared with the 4.5 per cent increase in the previous quarter.

URA said that the prices of non-landed properties in the core central region (CCR) and the rest of central region (RCR) increased by 3.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.

The previous quarter saw an increase of 3.9 per cent and 0.8 per cent decrease respectively.

Home buyers need to be more cautious, prudent amid looming economic uncertainties: Desmond Lee

Commentary: Before you decide to BTO, have you had the money talk?

Outlook for the rest of 2024.

Property analysts say that the launch of BTO flats later this year could draw demand away from the resale market while some believe that it may see more transactions because of it.

HDB will offer about 6,800 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in Jurong East, Kallang/Whoampoa, Queenstown, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun in June.

"We anticipate that the June BTO sale launch could draw demand away from the resale market," said Mr Chu.

"This is so as the June BTO sales launch largely focuses on popular mature estates and it will be the final sales launch before the reclassification of flats to prime, plus, and standard flats ." However, Mr Lee said the resale market may see more transactions as unsuccessful applicants for the sole Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise in 2024 may turn to the resale market.

"There will be more mass market launches for the rest of 2024 and HDB upgraders might sell their flats so that they do not need to pay ABSD (additional buyer’s stamp duty)," he added.

Analysts, however, expect the HDB resale market to "remain stable" this year. Mr Lee said resale flat prices are likely to stabilise in the range of 3 per cent to 5 per cent in 2024, while PropNex's head of research and content Wong Siew Ying added they are projected to rise at 5 per cent to 6 per cent.

For private property prices, analysts expect prices to increase at a steady rate.

“We foresee a resurgence in buyers’ interest with several highly anticipated new home launches scheduled over the next few months," said Mr Chu, noting that forecasted interest rate cuts could also help uplift buyers’ interest in the second half of the year.

Similarly, Ms Sun said she expects prices to grow at a steady rate at around 3 per cent to 6 per cent this year as new home demand "may remain resilient as more projects are slated for launch" in the second quarter of 2024.

"If interest rates moderate in the upcoming months, buying sentiment may pick up in the second half of this year. As mortgages become more affordable and financial costs improve, home buyers may feel more motivated to purchase or upgrade their homes," she added.

"Domestic mortgage rates are expected to remain at levels that are elevated relative to the low levels seen over the past decade," said HDB, adding that the economic outlook is "subject to uncertainties", like ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

"The government will continue to monitor the property market closely and adjust its policies as necessary to promote a stable and sustainable property market."

Solar eclipse 2024: Here's why you don't want to be on the road during April 8 eclipse

We know you've heard this many times, but it must be said often and strongly: do not look at the sun on april 8 (or any other day, for that matter) without certified glasses..

Editor's note: The information below was taken from a longer column written by Dr. David Rogers, Dr. Julia Stokes, Dr. Ryan Squier and Dr. Aaron Zimmerman and submitted by the Central Ohio Hospital Council . Find that column here .

Driving during the April 8 solar eclipse is expected to come with unique risk.

It’s not a concern that most people think of, but Ohio’s expecting an influx of between 100,000 and 500,000 visitors from other states on April 8. They, and thousands of citizens from southern and eastern parts of our state, are expected to converge on the areas that will experience partial and total darkness.

States in the path of past solar eclipses saw major traffic congestion and more than the usual number of traffic accidents and distracted-driver incidents in the days before, during and after the event. In Ohio counties where the eclipse will be viewable, public officials and hospital emergency departments, including ours in Franklin County (in partial totality), are preparing for the same.

Spectacular and dangerous. How to safely enjoy 2024 solar eclipse.

If you’re in one of the full or partial totality counties (see the map on the Ohio Emergency Management website; link below), our advice is to stay home between noon and 5 p.m. on April 8.

Run your errands early in the day or, better yet, in the days before. Traffic in totality areas – even partial totality – will be busy, and drivers will be distracted, especially between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 8.

If you plan to drive to an event, plan to arrive early and stay late to reduce your time sitting in traffic. Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving; you can’t see much while wearing them.

That’s a good thing when looking at the sun; not so for driving and other activities.

Stay alert in crowds on eclipse day

There are many large gatherings planned in central Ohio and throughout the state on eclipse day.

If you’ll be at one, keep a close eye on children and pets and be sure they have identification on them. This will be at least a 3-or-4-hour event. Arrive early and take enough sunscreen, bug spray, water and snacks. Dress for the weather.

If it’s a private event, watch out for people drinking alcohol or using mind-altering substances. Their judgment will be impaired, and they may attempt risky behavior, including staring at the sun without protection.

There will be a lot of down time over the length of the eclipse, so plan how you’ll occupy your time, and know that you won’t be wearing your ISO-certified glasses every minute. Keep this in mind, if you too plan to partake.

As health professionals, we advise you not to, especially if you’re with children.

Solar eclipse 2024 in Ohio: Best places to be dazzled by the sun April 8

As for us, we’re planning to experience this event with family, friends, or co-workers, and we have our viewing glasses ready. Several of us have seen total solar eclipses in other parts of the country, and they were amazing.

Like touching boiling water. April 8 solar eclipse can leave you blind or without color

If you can’t get outside to see it, or you would rather watch it in the comfort of your home, tune in to NASA’s live telecast online at plus.nasa.gov starting at 1 p.m. April 8.

We hope you enjoy every minute, and we wish all of you clear skies on April 8.

Where to find more information

Ohio Emergency Management : ema.ohio.gov . Ohio’s main information and reference website for the 2024 eclipse. Learn about the path of the eclipse through Ohio, get safety and planning advice, as well as links to other organizations involved in eclipse activities, parking dos and don’ts, and more.
American Astronomical Society: Find numerous features here, including a list of approved vendors for eclipse glasses on the Eye Safety page. Remember, these glasses are absolutely necessary if you look directly at the sun. Get yours free at a local library or order them from a reputable vendor now! Don’t delay. See eclipse.aas.org/eclipse-america-2024
NASA Plus Live Telecast : If it’s cloudy where you are, or you can’t get outside, watch the eclipse online thanks to NASA satellites and land centers. Watch at plus.nasa.gov starting at 1 p.m.

Dr. David Rogers is chief of Nationwide Children’s Hospital's Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Dr. Julia Stokes is a Mount Carmel Medical Group Grove City Family Health family practice physician. Dr. Ryan Squier is associate medical director at the OhioHealth New Albany Emergency Department. Dr. Aaron Zimmerman is a clinical professor at the Ohio State University College of Optometry .

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Singaporeans change travel plans to Taiwan in wake of 7.4-magnitude earthquake

SINGAPORE – Singaporeans who have been planning to travel to Taiwan in the coming weeks have had to make changes to their plans in the wake of an earthquake which hit eastern Taiwan on April 3.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck near the island’s eastern city of Hualien in the morning, toppled buildings and caused landslides, knocking out power in several parts of the capital Taipei.

At least nine people have been reported killed and over 900 injured.

Tremors from the earthquake were also felt in the Philippines, the southern islands of Japan and as far north as the Chinese city of Shanghai.

The Philippines and Japan had earlier issued tsunami alerts, and at least two dozen incoming flights were diverted from Okinawa’s airport.

Ms Janice Lai, in her 30s, told The Straits Times that she made the decision to cancel a family trip to Taiwan after her helper alerted her to the earthquake.

“Our helper heard about the news from her friends working in Taiwan,” she said.

The business development manager said the trip was meant to have taken place from April 11 to 18 and would have been the first holiday to Taiwan as a family for herself, her husband and two children aged two and five.

Their itinerary included Taipei, Yilan and Hualien, near the earthquake’s epicentre.

Ms Lai said that so far she has been able to recoup some of the $2,500 spent on accommodation and car rental, but was unable to get a refund on the flight tickets.

Others like Ms Geraldine, who declined to reveal her last name, said they will be proceeding with their holidays to Taiwan this month, despite some concerns.

The 28-year-old senior operations associate said: “It’s the first time that I am travelling to a place that was recently hit by an earthquake so I am not sure what to expect.

“(I am) a little worried if our Airbnb will still be standing in Hualien, because the area struck will be our first destination.”

She said that she and a friend had planned to travel there to hike the Taroko Gorge during their trip from April 23 to May 5.

The Taroko Gorge is a popular attraction located in Taiwan’s Taroko National Park, which spans Hualien county.

“We are wondering if it (the debris) might be cleared by then since we are only travelling 20 days after,” she said, adding that she would assess the situation upon arrival and could make changes to her itinerary.

“Anything can happen, even at the last minute. Even if we are not able to travel to certain parts that were planned initially, it is still all right, given the unforeseen circumstances. Of course in all things we do, safety is also our priority, so we will take it as it comes.”

A post on the park’s website said that Taroko National Park would close from April 3 to 7 for the safety of park visitors.

Civil servant Jack Teo, 45, said that other than one cancelled segment, he was going to proceed with his trip to Taiwan on April 4.

Speaking to ST, Mr Teo said: “I saw the news of the earthquake this morning, but I thought it was normal as earthquakes are quite common in Taiwan.”

He said that he was planning to travel to Taipei and Kaohsiung, in the island’s north and south respectively, which were not as badly affected.

“I had booked an organised tour to the Taroko Gorge but the organisers have e-mailed to say that it’s been cancelled and that I would be getting a refund,” he said.

“Some of my friends and relatives have checked in with me and expressed their concerns after hearing the news. I’ll be meeting Taiwanese friends, so they will help me if anything happens. I’ll also tune in to the local news,” said Mr Teo.

Of her cancelled trip, Ms Lai said: “We are quite disappointed because we have been planning and looking forward to the trip for months, which we booked in September 2023.”

Among the places and activities she had researched and picked out were child-friendly farms, a seaside cafe in Hualien, whale watching and a long train ride for her son, who loves trains.

She said: “At the end of the day, at least we are safe and sound and not there when it happened. We can always go to Taiwan next time.”

Tour agencies that ST spoke to said they were not cancelling any upcoming tours to Taiwan and would be amending the itineraries to avoid affected areas.

A spokesman for EU Holidays said that a group of 10, who had been in Taiwan since March 28, was due to return on April 4, while another group is expected to depart for Taiwan on April 5.

He said: “Members of the group currently in Taipei said they felt tremors, but all of them are safe. For our upcoming tour, the group’s itinerary will be amended to bypass Hualien.”

“Parts of the highway have been blocked, so there is no way for us to reach them. Our staff on the ground have also said that they are unable to contact hotels in Hualien,” he added.

Similarly, Nam Ho Travel said it would be altering the programmes of groups scheduled to leave for Taiwan next week in order to avoid the affected areas.

Chan Brothers Travel marketing communications manager Jeremiah Wong said that its tour groups currently in Taiwan were not along the island’s east coast or in the Hualien region.

Mr Wong said: “We have assisted all of our travellers in reporting their safe status back to their families in Singapore to ensure peace of mind. Our itineraries are not currently affected.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, and if there is any need to adjust our itineraries and logistics, we will act in the best interest of our travellers to ensure safety remains our utmost priority.”

Additional reporting by Sarah Koh

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‘The Plane Is Fine’: An Airline Course Looks to Overcome Fear in the Skies

Anxiety when flying might not seem so unreasonable these days, but a British Airways program seeks to reassure the lightly nervous and the abjectly terrified alike.

A man stands in front of a large photograph of a British Airways plane, his hands are before him in a calming gesture and he’s wearing a white shirt with epaulets and a tie.

By Sarah Lyall

No sooner had British Airways Flight 9240 roared into the air over Heathrow Airport than the cabin air was pierced by a sharp, scary noise, like an alarm or a siren. The power surged and then seemed to falter, and the plane became worryingly quiet. (Too quiet?)

Listen to this article with reporter commentary

Open this article in the New York Times Audio app on iOS.

What was it? Images of catastrophic scenarios — birds, engine failure, parts falling off, total systemic breakdown — pinballed through the passengers’ imaginations as the plane seemed to struggle to find its equilibrium. Unease gripped the cabin. But then a disembodied voice wafted soothingly over the public-address system. “Everything’s normal,” the voice said. “The plane is fine.”

This emotional roller coaster of a flight, a 35-minute loop in the air that started and finished at Heathrow, was the culmination of the airline’s “Flying With Confidence” course , aimed at people who are afraid to fly — the lightly nervous as well as the abjectly terrified.

The course includes a deep dive into the mechanics and operation of an airplane. There’s also a section on how pilots are trained to deal with various scenarios — including cabin depressurization, malfunctioning landing gear, holes in the fuselage and sudden gusts of wind on the runway that force what is called a “go-around” — when a pilot suddenly aborts the landing and sends the plane barreling straight back into the sky. The day ends when the attendees — or at least those who didn’t leave early — board an actual plane for a real-life flight.

As many as 40 percent of all airline passengers have at least mild apprehension about flying, experts say, and people with serious aviophobia fall roughly into two groups. About 20 percent have “an underlying anxiety that manifests as fear of flying,” said Douglas Boyd, an aviation researcher who runs a fear-of-flying course in Houston . Another 70 to 75 percent, he said, “think that something bad will happen to the plane — there will be a fire, the engine will fall off, the pilot is drunk, it’s going to crash.” (The rest have a hybrid of worries.)

Flying is objectively low-risk, and 2023 was the safest year for jet travel ever, according to the International Air Transport Association . But fear of flying hardly seems irrational, what with reports of aircraft malfunctions, overworked air traffic controllers and the sense that climate change is making turbulence worse .

For instance: On Jan. 5, a door plug — a door-sized panel on the side of an aircraft — blew off the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines jet as it made its ascent, depressurizing the cabin and exposing passengers to open air thousands of feet above ground. Also in January, five members of the Japanese Coast Guard were killed when their plane collided with a Japanese Airlines jet on a Tokyo runway and both planes burst into flames. (Everyone — 367 passengers and 12 crew members — on the Japanese Airlines flight survived.) Boeing, the manufacturer of the Alaska Airlines plane and other planes that have experienced various mishaps, has faced particular criticism for neglecting safety .

Such incidents loom large in the heads of passengers, but Mr. Boyd said that people tend to ignore how rare they are. “You have to look at objective measurements,” he said. “In the last 15 years we’ve had only two fatal accidents with a U.S. carrier, and that speaks volumes.” (Those were when a Continental Airlines flight crashed into a house in Buffalo in 2009 , killing 50 people, and when a window blew out after an engine exploded on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018, killing a passenger who was partly sucked out of the plane.)

Nobody wants to go through a flight racked with fear or beset by emotional upheaval, and airlines have an obvious interest in calm, unterrified passengers. A number of airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa and Virgin, offer fear-of-flying programs, but B.A.’s has been operating for more than 35 years and is considered the most well-established.

I — an occasionally nervous-in-turbulence but not prohibitively terrified flyer — joined an October session, paying the fee of 395 British pounds, or about $508.

My fellow attendees represented a spectrum of ages and professions and suffered from a range of anxieties.

Duncan Phillips, a high school science teacher, said that he had not set foot on a plane since his honeymoon, two decades earlier. Imogen Corrigan, a medieval history lecturer, said that she had a “generalized dread of the whole airport experience,” exacerbated by a traumatic flight some years earlier in which her seatmate, incorrectly interpreting the plane’s post-takeoff noises as systemic engine failure, rose to her feet and yelled, “We’re not going up!”

And a 28-year-old man who asked that his name not be used because he works at Buckingham Palace said that his problem was claustrophobia — he once got trapped in an elevator — but that he was committed to overcoming it. “I just don’t want to be afraid anymore,” he said.

Listening to the captain

Standing onstage in a conference room at a hotel at Heathrow and using props like slides, a plastic plane and a replica of a human ear to explain how airplanes work, Capt. Steve Allright, the B.A. pilot who led the program, provided his go-to anti-anxiety tip.

“I want you to breathe out for four seconds and then breathe in, while squeezing your largest muscles — your buttocks,” he said. “What you’re doing is taking control of your mind and your racing thoughts. Don’t sit and suffer. Breathe and squeeze.”

(Yes, Captain Allright has seen the film “Airplane!” in which Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Peter Graves play two pilots whose names — Roger Murdock and Clarence Oveur — lead to “Who’s on First”-style amusement when their colleagues bark “Roger, Roger!” and “Over, Oveur!” at them. Captain Allright knows that his name, too, sounds fictional. It is not.)

He invited the group to identify its specific worries. “How many of you have not flown for more than 20 years, or never flown?” he asked. “How many are regular business travelers, and it’s getting worse? Mums and dads who had children and it suddenly made them aware of their own mortality?”

He peered into the crowd. “Who doesn’t like the takeoff?” he added. “Who doesn’t like the landing and — everyone’s favorite — who doesn’t like the turbulence?”

One person raised her hand for all the categories.

Among the points made by Captain Allright and his team:

The wings of planes can’t just snap off.

The plane has sufficient stores of fuel and will not suddenly run out of gas. “Those Hollywood scenes where they’re circling around yelling that they’re going to run out of fuel and the plane is going to ‘land on fumes,’” Captain Allright said, “that’s not going to happen.”

The thing that sounds like the engines have suddenly ceased functioning after takeoff? It’s an auditory illusion created by the reduction in power after the plane becomes airborne; the plane needs more power to take off and less power when it gets into the air.

Those movies in which pilots are “wrestling with the controls and sweating profusely during turbulence” are totally fake, Captain Allright said. “Turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous.”

When you hear a strange beeping noise in the cabin, it is not a secret pilots’ signal meaning that “we have an emergency, but don’t tell the passengers.” In fact, “all airplanes make different noises,” Captain Allright said, and what you’re hearing could well be something like the “barking dog noise” that people say they hear on some Airbus jets, attributable to the planes’ hydraulics.

No pilot would ever unlock the cockpit door and let in a bunch of hijackers, even if the hijackers were threatening to kill the flight attendant with whom the pilot was having an affair, as in the TV series “Hijack,” starring Idris Elba.

The presentation seemed to allay some of the passengers’ fears. Charlotte Wheeler, an agricultural company executive still spooked by a childhood in which her acutely phobic mother would drink to excess and become obstreperous and hysterical on flights, said she appreciated Captain Allright’s willingness to journey through the weeds of her apprehension.

“That whole ‘wings not snapping off’ thing was amazing,” she said. “And I appreciated what he said about the fuel not running out.”

Ms. Corrigan, the lecturer, said she was particularly soothed by Captain Allright’s discussion of “the bit where they’ve just taken off and you don’t think it’s going to make it.”

B.A. 9240 is boarding

The hard-news presentation was followed by a segment on fear, anxiety reduction and relaxation led by a psychologist, Dr. Jan Smith. But, eventually, it was time to get on the plane, minus several unnerved people who left during the lunch break and never came back. Divided into small groups, each led by a B.A. employee in a high-visibility orange vest, the remaining passengers moved tentatively through the airport terminal. The boarding passes listed the destination as “Fictitious Point,” because the plane was both departing from and returning to Heathrow.

There was a brief setback. The first passengers boarded, only to find that they had to get off because an unspecified glitch had failed to register their existence when they scanned their boarding passes.

“This is not good,” one passenger said.

“Is this part of the course?” said another. “I have a fear of stampedes.”

Several people fretted by the door and failed to board the plane. One woman successfully got on but quickly got off, sobbing. “I’m sorry,” she said.

Everyone else took their seats: 120 customers intermingled with about 20 B.A. personnel, pilots and psychologists whose job was to provide emotional and occasionally physical support at this most delicate part of the day. People were hyperventilating, reciting inspirational mantras, folding into themselves and, in several cases, openly crying. A woman in the front row cranked up her headphones and tried to distract herself with the Lee Child thriller “No Plan B.”

“I really, really don’t like being up in the air,” she said.

The plane took off and the power surged on and then ratcheted down, as Captain Allright had explained. The collective anxiety level rose to 11. “Everything’s normal,” he said. “The speed is stable. The pilots are happy and relaxed. This would be a good time to do your breathing and squeezing.”

The plane flew around for a bit as he talked through the sights and sounds — the Millennium Dome, Gatwick Airport, the London Eye, the wing flaps, a little chirping noise signifying that autopilot had been switched off.

“That means that Nigel’s now controlling the aircraft manually,” Captain Allright said, referring to the pilot, Capt. Nigel Willing, who was at the controls and who, yes, has another name that sounds like he’s a character in a movie. “It’s perfectly normal. Let’s all make a conscious decision to squeeze our buttocks.”

As the plane began its descent, some of the passengers, genuinely amazed that they had made it this far, took proof-of-flight photos out the window.

“I’m just glad I didn’t throw up,” the “No Plan B” reader said. “I could really use a cigarette.”

The plane came to a stop and Idris Guest, an IT worker who had not been in the air since a horrific 2016 experience involving turbulence and a flight attendant with a bleeding head wound, pronounced himself if not cured, then at least not in a fetal position.

He vowed to fly again. “I’m on a massive high,” he said.

“Everything’s normal,” Captain Allright said. “Give yourself a round of applause, people.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Read by Sarah Lyall

Audio produced by Sarah Diamond .

Sarah Lyall is a writer at large for The Times, writing news, features and analysis across a wide range of sections. More about Sarah Lyall

Managing Anxiety and Stress

Stay balanced in the face of stress and anxiety with our collection of tools and advice..

How are you, really? This self-guided check-in will help you take stock of your emotional well-being — and learn how to make changes .

These simple and proven strategies will help you manage stress , support your mental health and find meaning in the new year.

First, bring calm and clarity into your life with these 10 tips . Next, identify what you are dealing with: Is it worry, anxiety or stress ?

Persistent depressive disorder is underdiagnosed, and many who suffer from it have never heard of it. Here is what to know .

If you notice drastic shifts in your mood during certain times of the year, you could have seasonal affective disorder. Here are answers to your top questions about the condition .

How much anxiety is too much? Here is how to establish whether you should see a professional about it .

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COMMENTS

HDB
The pass must have a validity period of at least 6 months as at the date of application by the flat owners: Work Permit holders from the construction, marine, and process sectors must be Malaysians. Work Permit holders from the manufacturing sector must also be Malaysians if they are renting a whole HDB flat. Tourists are not allowed to rent ...
Can visitors on tourist visa stay in my house ( HDB ) for 2-3 days?
As a flat owner renting out your flat, you must ensure that: Only the authorised tenants are staying in the flat. The number of tenants does not exceed the maximum number allowed. Your tenants do not further rent out the flat to others, create nuisance, or misuse the flat. Your tenants are legally residing in Singapore.
i have rented a HDB flat. my parent is coming on tourist pass for a
Schedule for your FREE session today! Warmest regards, Geryl Lim. Associate Group Director. Salesperson Registration No. R014783H. Email: [email protected] / [email protected]. OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd 430 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #01-01 OrangeTee Building Singapore 319402. Estate Agent Licence No. L3009250K.
HDB
Tourists are not allowed as tenants of HDB flats; You can check online if your tenant's documents are valid: NRIC, Student Pass or Long Term Social Visit Pass; Work permit, S Pass or Employment Pass; If you are renting out the flat to a company to house its employees, the employees must also meet the above eligibility conditions for tenants.
Visiting HDB estate as a tourist : r/askSingapore
You will not be able to travel past Tanah Merah or Commonwealth unless you have at least Level 1 citizenship or Permanent Residency. If you have a prior criminal record, or some anti-social behavior indicators (e.g. long hair as a male, or tattoos) you will only be able to travel 500m from the MRT station. Else you can travel up to 1.2 km away.
Can I rent even if am tourist only?
Hi, Thank you for your question! Unfortunately, tourists can't rent or stay in an HDB flat. Your best bet is to stay in a hotel or a service apartment. Best regards, PropertyGuru Team Read More
Short-Term Accommodation
Under the law, they are not allowed to be used for short-term accommodation - defined as stays of less than three consecutive months. An example of short-term accommodation is when short-term visitors, such as tourists, book and stay at such properties for a few days. The purpose of this regulation is to safeguard the safety, privacy and ...
Renting in SG as a Foreigner? FAQs Answered
For HDB flats, renting out on a short-term basis is not allowed. The minimum renting out period is 6 months while the maximum renting out period is 3 years per application. However, if one or more of the tenants is a non-Malaysian NC, the maximum renting out period is only 1.5 years. The tenancy period for private properties shall not be for ...
Can I Rent Out My HDB and Stay in a Condo? Exploring the ...
ABSD Rate as of 27 April 2023. 4. Number of Occupants: The number of occupants in the HDB flat affects the rental possibilities. For example, a maximum of six occupants are allowed in a three-room ...
Updates in Rental Rules and Regulations in Singapore (HDB & Private
For a HDB 3-room, you can only rent out 1 room. For HDB 4-room and bigger, you can only rent out a maximum of 2 rooms. - To maximise rental income, there are landlords circumventing the rules and regulations. You are strongly advised not to circumvent the rules and regulations. HDB does conduct regular checks to take enforcement action ...
can i have guest stay in my occupied hdb flat ...
Read Answers from Real Estate Professionals in Singapore to can i have guest stay in my occupied hdb flat for free. To comply with GDPR we will not store any personally identifiable information from you. Therefore we will serve sub-optimal experience where some features such as Login/Signup are disabled. However, you will be able to search and ...
Is it legal for my relative to stay at my house?
For hdb side better add him as occupier. Think can do it online via myhdbpage. For ica side, clarify whether his ic should state the address of his flat (which he does not live in) or the address of the flat (your place) that he lives in. As long as u have done your due diligence no one can find fault with u.
For Foreign Students: How to Start Renting a Home in Singapore
First things first though. If you're one of the many students-to-be in Singapore, then you'll need a decently priced yet well-maintained place to stay. 1. Keep your money in check. As a student, you're bound to have a fairly limited budget. Of course, you won't spend all that on your rent alone as you still have utilities, everyday ...
HDB Living Guide: 12 HDB Rules You Need to Follow
You do you, as they say. Just don't smoke in the corridor where the smoke can travel into your neighbour's living room where their baby could be sleeping. Smoking in HDB corridors and void decks is illegal. You're not allowed to smoke in the stairwell or void deck, either. Aside from these places, you should be good.
gov.sg
Flat owners are required to seek HDB's approval before renting out their bedroom (s). Applications to rent out bedrooms maybe submitted online via HDB's e-services. The outcome of the application will be made known immediately. An administrative fee is payable with each application, at $10 per bedroom.
HDB
Renting out of flat for non-residential use, for example, to tourists, for commercial filming or goods storage, is also not allowed. ... We urge members of the public to report suspected cases of unauthorised rental or misuse of HDB flats to us, by calling our dedicated hotline 1800-555-6370 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. All information ...
Can I Rent Out My HDB Flat / Condo? [2022 Guide]
Renting out a flat: Subletting room(s) HDB approval required. HDB approval required, and the owner(s) have to personally stay in the flat. Must register tenant with HDB within 7 days.
HDB Extension of Stay
An Extension of Stay period starts from the HDB Completion Date. Which means that the Extension starts from the day the HDB Resale Transaction for the flat is completed. Eg. If HDB Completion Date is on 1 March, a 3 months extension will mean that the buyers have to allow sellers to stay in the flat until 1 June.
HDB
Citizenship. To rent a flat or bedroom, prospective tenants must be any of the following: Singapore Citizen. Singapore Permanent Resident. Non-citizen legally residing in Singapore who holds an Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, Student Pass, Dependant Pass, or Long-Term Social Visit Pass. The pass must have a validity period of at least 6 ...
Is it safe to drive during the solar eclipse? Yes, but don't do this
During totality, the eclipse can be viewed with the naked eye. The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where ...
HDB resale prices rise 1.7%; private home prices up 1.5% in first ...
Ashley Tham. SINGAPORE: Prices of Housing Board (HDB) resale flats rose by 1.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, higher than the 1.1 per cent growth in the previous quarter. Flash estimates ...
Solar eclipse 2024: Being in traffic may come with dangers, headaches
Traffic in totality areas - even partial totality - will be busy, and drivers will be distracted, especially between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 8. If you plan to drive to an event, plan to ...
I'm on EP and staying in a rented HDB. My...
Appreciate if you can contact me at (65) 9 6 6 0 8 5 0 8 with details of your unit. or click here https://bit.ly/WaSilvia to whatsapp me for no obligation discussion. Thank you. Warmest regards, Silvia Yang. Senior Marketing Director. ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd. Mobile: (65) 9 6 6 0 8 5 0 8. Email: [email protected].
Singaporeans change travel plans to Taiwan in wake of 7.4-magnitude
Apr 03, 2024, 04:14 PM. SINGAPORE - Singaporeans who have been planning to travel to Taiwan in the coming weeks have had to make changes to their plans in the wake of an earthquake which hit ...
HDB
HDB commercial property owners and tenants who wish to rent out their living quarters can apply via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal. The administrative fee is $100 per application. ... each subject to a minimum stay duration of three consecutive months. ... the public can write in using HDB's e-Feedback form, or contact the HDB Branch Service ...
An Airline Course Looks to Overcome Fear in the Skies
Jeremie Souteyrat for The New York Times. By Sarah Lyall. April 2, 2024. No sooner had British Airways Flight 9240 roared into the air over Heathrow Airport than the cabin air was pierced by a ...
HDB
Eligibility conditions for flat owners. You can rent out your spare bedrooms if you own a 3-room or bigger flat. If you own a 1 or 2-room flat, you are not allowed to rent out your bedroom. You are required to seek HDB's approval before the commencement of the tenancy. You must also inform us of any subsequent changes of any tenants ...