Many property owners here rely on property rental to help them with their mortgages and oftentimes, the rental option is regarded as a long-term financial aid. What then should you as a home owner who is looking to rent out your private property or even just a room in your home be watching out for? And as a tenant, do you know what you should or should not do?
Public housing or HDB flats fall under the jurisdiction of the Housing Development Board (HDB), which has clear rules and guidelines for property leasing. But private properties are often left to the discretion of the market, tenants and landlords, with some areas which though seemingly grey, should be quite glaringly clear.
What is not allowed?
- Short-term rentals. Though concepts such as Airbnb have been around for sometime, it sadly may not yet work within Singapore’s legislative system for property rentals. URA’s lease and subletting rules currently states that rentals need to fulfil certain requirements, with the time period being a minimum of 6 months.
- Partitioning of a unit into smaller units. It is not uncommon to find landlords or sometimes a master tenant putting up false walls or partitions in order to sublet the unit. The maximum number of residents in a private residential property is 8, regardless of the size of the property.
- Leasing to tenants without proper papers. Landlords should always make it a point to check and keep a copy of the tenants’ passport and work permits or employment passes as the onus is on the owner of the unit to ensure that the unit is rented only to legal workers. A quick check on the ICA website will allow you to verify your tenants’ validity and authenticity.
- Subletting of properties by master tenants. As landlords of a property, always be vigilant and do frequent checks on your property to ensure the clauses in your tenancy agreements are not flouted.
And for tenants, be aware that your landlord should pay for the condominium’s maintenance fees. For both sides, a reliable agent who will be able to advise and help you with the proper paperwork and help your keep a lookout for blind spots is an invaluable asset.
