{"id":10222,"date":"2017-05-22T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2017-05-22T00:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=10222"},"modified":"2022-07-01T04:06:59","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T20:06:59","slug":"how-the-new-occupancy-laws-will-affect-singapores-landlords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/how-the-new-occupancy-laws-will-affect-singapores-landlords\/","title":{"rendered":"How the new occupancy laws will affect Singapore\u2019s landlords"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New occupancy laws kicked in on 15<\/span>th<\/span> May 2017. The total number of unrelated tenants is now restricted to six, because that\u2019s what happens when bureaucracy is confused with logic. Here\u2019s how it could impact our landlords:<\/span><\/p>\n

Occupancy rules, then and now<\/b><\/h4>\n

Prior to this new ruling, landlords could have up to eight unrelated tenants. But from 15<\/span>th<\/span> May onwards, the maximum is six. If there are six related persons living in the property, no tenants are allowed.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is regardless of the size of the private property involved. That\u2019s right; a 5,000-square foot home, with a living room you could play golf in, has the same occupancy limit as a 1,400-square foot apartment. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Urban Redevelopment Authority has said,<\/span> \u201cWe have simplified the control for greater clarity to the public by not adopting a stratified occupancy cap control based on unit sizes<\/span><\/i>\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

After all, imagine if we had a system as complex as, say, one tenant per X square feet. You\u2019d need to be some kind of nuclear physicist to work it out.<\/span><\/p>\n

The URA also said the change is to ensure residential units are \u201c<\/span>consistent with the character of the local community and integrate better with the neighbourhood<\/span><\/i>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

And we all know, six tenants are fine. But once a seventh moves in, everyone develops an urge to dress differently, hate their neighbours, and host loud parties. The current limit is eight occupants, and look at how many of our neighbourhoods are wastelands because of it*.<\/span><\/p>\n

For tenancy agreements made before 15<\/span>th<\/span> May, the new occupancy limit will only kick in on 15<\/span>th<\/span> May 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

*<\/span>estimated number = below one.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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How will this affect landlords?<\/b><\/h4>\n

There are a few ways this is going to affect landlords:<\/span><\/p>\n