Regulations for Renting a Flat/ Bedroom

Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat

If you are a non-Malaysian non-citizen (Singapore Permanent Resident or foreigner) renting the HDB flat, you will be subject to the Non-Citizen Quota for Renting Out of Flat. The quota is to help maintain a good ethnic mix in HDB estates. Malaysians are not subject to this quota in view of their close cultural and historical similarities with Singaporeans.

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

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

Rental period

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

Maximum number of tenants and occupants

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

  Renting of Flat Renting of Bedroom(s)
Flat Type Maximum Number of tenants Allowed in Each Flat^  Maximum Number of Bedroom(s) Allowed Maximum Number of Occupants* Allowed in Each Flat^
1-room and 2-room 4 Owners are not allowed to rent out the bedroom.
3-room 6 1 6
4-room and bigger 6 2 6

* Include flat owners, authorised occupiers, and tenants

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