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Subletting Your Flat/Room
Renting your home out is one way to make some extra income. However, flat owners have some rules to follow in this case. You'll need to have:
- Occupied your non-subsidised flat for at least five years
- Occupied your subsidised flat for at least five years
If you do not meet this Minimum Occupation Period, you can still sublet your flat if:
- You are living in quarters provided by your employer
- You are going overseas to work or study
- You are living in commercial properties
- You are the only occupier of the flat and you need assistance from relatives because you are ill
- You, as the sole occupier, are hospitalised for more than six months
- The flat owners have passed away and left behind an orphaned minor child. The guardian or public trustee of the child may sublet the whole flat
If you decide to sublet your flat, there are certain eligibility conditions that your tenants have to comply with. Your tenants must be Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents. Non-citizens are also eligible, but must be residing in Singapore legally. Examples include foreign workers with employment passes and students with student passes.
Setting Up a Home Office
There are other ways to make use of your flat, such as converting it into a home office. Owners and subtenants who are 18 years and above are eligible to do this. Other conditions to be met are:
- Ensuring the place remains a residence. The work area must be ancillary to the residence and all activities must be confined within the flat
- The business must be registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority unless it is exempted from registration under the Business Registration Act
- The flat cannot be a registered address for a society
- The environment in the flat cannot be noisy and must not emit smoke or other harmful substances
- The business cannot encourage illegal or unlawful behaviour, such as gambling or prostitution
- There cannot be advertisements or posters displayed and there must be no sale of physical goods
Home-Based Small Scale Business
You may operate small scale activities from home if you do not engage other employees. Approval from HDB is not required. Examples of small scale businesses that are allowed are:
- Doing office work on your computer which is linked to the main office computer
- Undertaking sewing at home to supplement the household income
- Freelance work without employing anyone
- Baking cakes on a small scale, without turning the home into a bakery
- Conducting private tuition for not more than three students at any one time
- Providing beauty services (hairdressing, facials, etc) to supplement the household income
Keeping Pets
If you're a pet lover, then keeping pets such as dogs and other animals fall within certain rules and regulations set by the HDB. Homeowners who do not follow these guidelines are liable to incur a fine not exceeding S$4,000.
DOGS
HDB allows only one dog of an approved breed to be kept in a flat. These breeds are generally smaller in size and easily manageable. The list of approved breeds is:
A
- Affenpinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Australian Terrier
See more...
B
- Bichon Frise
- Bohemian Terrier
- Bolognese
- Brussels Griffon (Griffon Bruxaellois)
- Bichon Avanese
- Border Terrier
- Boston Terrier - Lightweight and Middleweight
C
- Cairn Terrier
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chihuahua
- Chinese Crested Dog
- Chinese Imperial Chin
- Chinese Temple Dog (Classic and Miniature)
- Coton de tulear
- Czech Terrier
D
- Dachshund (Light and Miniature)
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
E
- English Toy Spaniel
G
- Griffon Belge
- German Hunting Terrier
- Griffon Brabancon
H
- Hairless Dog
I
- Italian Greyhound
J
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Japanese Spaniel (Chin)
- Japanese Spitz
L
- Lhasa Apso
- Little Lion Dog
- Lakeland Terrier
M
- Maltese
- Manchester Terrier
- Miniature Pinscher
- Miniature Schnauzer
N
- Norfolk Terrier
- Norwich Terrier
P
- Papillon
- Pekinese 61. Welsh Terrier
- Pomeranian
- Poodle
- Pug
- Poodle (Miniature)
S
- Schipperkee
- Scottish Terrier
- Sealyham Terrier
- Shetland Sheep dog
- Shih Tzu
- Silky Terrier
- Small Continental Spaniel
- Small English Terrier
- Small Spitz
- Smooth Fox Terrier
T
- Toy Fox Terrier
- Toy Terrier
- Tibetan Spaniel
V
- Volpino Italiano
W
- West Highland Terrier
- Wire-Haired Fox Terrier
Y
- Yorkshire Terrier
CATS
Due to the nomadic nature of this species, HDB does not allow cats to be kept in flats. According to HDB policies, this restriction is due to the fact that it is generally difficult to confine cats within the flat premises. For more information on this policy, please visit HDB website here.
OTHERS
HDB also allows flat owners to keep other pets such as birds, rabbits, hamsters and fish.
In general, flat owners are not required to seek HDB's approval for keeping pets in their flats. However, an owner has to obtain a license from the AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority) to keep a dog in a flat. Dog owners can also seek assistance from the NEA (National Environment Agency) and Police for various other dog-related issues.
Being a Good Neighbour
To maintain a peaceful co-existence within the housing estates and high-rises, the HDB advises residents to exercise understanding, tolerance and mutual understanding amongst themselves. Arguments arising from trivial issues such as littering, dripping mops or noise disturbances can be easily avoided with a little consideration and restraint.
Under the lease terms set by HDB, a flat owner should act responsibly within one's flat or common area. The HDB can take action against flat owners who act against the Lease Term. This will lead to compulsory acquisition of the flat. A few ways flat owners can contribute to the harmony of the housing estate are:
- Refraining from causing late night disturbances such as blasting loud music or watching noisy TV programs or movies
- Ensuring that your children do not make excessive noise while playing inside
- Advising your visitors to refrain from disturbing your neighbours
- Not dragging large objects or furniture across the floor
- Ensuring laundry is not dripping wet before hanging it out to dry to avoid soiling your neighbours' laundry below
- Not throwing any items out of your window as this may injure passers-by
- Ensuring a pet is in good health and trained well
- Keeping the flat clean and tidy without obstructing the common areas
To solve disputes between neighbours, both parties should come together to find a solution that is acceptable to both. If this process fails, they can approach the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) to help resolve the dispute. In certain cases, a party can also approach the police for a solution. Nuisances that are related to public health are solved by the NEA.
In extreme situations when a dispute cannot be resolved by any means, a private summon may be filed by the aggrieved party to make a complaint to the Subordinate Court's magistrate. A lawyer may not be required for this purpose. However, the aggrieved party may also consult a lawyer to get advice on the various avenues of legal recourse for dealing with the problematic neighbour.
It is advisable that a flat owner abides by these rules and regulations set by the HDB to help maintain a friendly atmosphere within the premises.
