Regulations for Renting Flats

Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat

If the tenant renting the flat is a non-Malaysian non-citizen (Singapore Permanent Resident or foreigner), the tenant will be subject to the Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat. The quota is to help maintain a good ethnic mix in HDB estates. Malaysians are excluded from this quota because of their close cultural and historical similarities with Singaporeans. 

The quota is applicable if any tenant renting a flat is a non-Malaysian non-citizen, and is set at 8% at the neighbourhood level and 11% at the block level. If the quota is reached, only Singaporeans and Malaysians can rent a flat in that neighbourhood/ block. This quota does not apply to the renting out of bedrooms.

Prospective tenants may use our e-Service to check if an HDB flat can be rented by non-Malaysian non-citizens. The e-Service can also be accessed via the HDB Map Services.

Rental period

Tenants must rent an HDB flat/ bedroom for at least 6 months. Owners can apply to rent out their flat/ bedrooms for a maximum period of 3 years per application if their tenants are all Singaporeans or Malaysians. For rental applications involving non-Malaysian non-citizens, the maximum period per approval is 2 years.

Renting out of flat for non-residential use, for example, to tourists, for commercial filming or goods storage, is also not allowed.

Maximum number of tenants/ occupants

Take note of the maximum number of tenants and occupants allowed in each flat when renting the flat/ bedrooms. 

* Includes flat owners, authorised occupiers, and tenants

^ Only bedrooms originally constructed by HDB can be rented out.  All other parts of the flat (including partitioned rooms) cannot be used as bedrooms for tenants.