Sole Tenancy of Public Rental Housing
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the criteria for sole tenancy in public rental housing and the management of co-tenant disputes under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS). Mr Alex Yam inquired about the reasons for exceptions to sole tenancy and whether tenants might create unpleasant living environments to discourage potential co-tenants. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong clarified that while JSS tenants must typically share a flat, medical exceptions are made for conditions like low immunity to infections. Approximately 2,000 JSS flats are currently single-occupied due to various factors like marriage or death, with HDB offering assistance and a six-month grace period to find new co-tenants. Regarding problematic behavior, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong stated that HDB can take action under the Tenancy Agreement, including non-renewal or flat recovery, as a final measure.
Transcript
15 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the breakdown of categories of exceptions made for sole tenancy of public rental housing over the last five years, (b) how many rentals of single-tenanted flats are due to disputes between tenants; and (c) whether there is a potential loophole where tenants create a living atmosphere that is detrimental to potential co-tenants.
Mr Lawrence Wong: There are currently two broad categories of public rentals – those who apply as a family unit, and those who apply as singles under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS). For the families staying in rental flats, HDB will typically exercise flexibility in allowing the tenant to stay on as sole occupant in the event of the passing of a family member. For the JSS, the tenant will have to find another person to stay together, if his co-tenant passes away or withdraws from the tenancy. However, on a case-by-case basis, HDB does make exceptions for JSS rental tenants to live alone. These are mostly due to medical reasons, for instance, having illnesses that leave them with low immunity to infections.
There are currently about 2,000 flats occupied by only one tenant under the JSS. Their co-tenants withdrew from the tenancy for various reasons, including marriage, death or having found alternative accommodation and not necessarily due to disputes. HDB does not keep specific records of the reasons for the co-tenants' withdrawal.
Tenants are given six months to find another co-tenant. We encourage them to look for someone they know, like a relative or friend. HDB also provides them with a list of single applicants, or introduces them to other single tenants of a similar profile, whom they may contact before mutually agreeing to jointly rent a flat.
If a rental tenant creates a living environment that makes joint occupation difficult, HDB can take action against the tenant under the Tenancy Agreement, including not allowing further renewal of their tenancy and recovering the rental flat as a last resort.