HDB steps up enforcement against unauthorised subletting
Under regulations which take effect on Wednesday, Housing Board flat owners who are permanent residents will no longer be able to sublet their flats for an indefinite period of time. Presently, flat owners who are Singapore citizens and permanent residents are allowed to sublet their flat after the minimum occupancy period. The approval is granted for a maximum of three years per application, and owners can apply to renew the period of subletting upon the expiry of each three-year period, said a Housing Board spokesman on Wednesday morning. There is also no cap on the number of renewals and the total period of subletting, he added. Under the revised rule, permanent residents will only be allowed to sublet their flat if they have not done so before. The approval will be granted for a year only, instead of three years. Upon expiry of the one-year period, the application to extend the approval will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and approval will be granted only if there are extenuating reasons, said the spokesman. The total period of subletting during the flat owners' entire duration of the flat ownership will be capped at five years.
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