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Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)
Renting out your HDB flat or bedroom in Singapore comes with strict regulations set by the Housing & Development Board (HDB). If you are a Singapore Citizen and have fulfilled the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of five years, you are allowed to rent out your entire HDB flat, subject to HDB approval. Under the new HDB categorisation, if you own a Prime or Plus flat, you have a 10-year MOP to serve and you cannot rent out your entire HDB flat after. Fun fact - MOP used to be way shorter at 3 years before August 2010.
However, if you are a Permanent Resident (PR), you are not allowed to rent out your entire HDB flat.
| HDB Category | MOP | After MOP |
|---|---|---|
| Mature Estate HDB Flat | 5 years | Can rent out entire HDB flat |
| Non-Mature Estate HDB Flat | 5 years | Can rent out entire HDB flat |
| Standard HDB Flat | 5 years | Can rent out entire HDB flat |
| Prime HDB Flat | 10 years | Cannot rent out entire HDB flat |
| Plus HDB Flat | 10 years | Cannot rent out entire HDB flat |
HDB Rental Period (6 months to 3 years)
The rental duration must be at least 6 months, with a maximum of 3 years if the tenants are Singaporeans or Malaysians, and 2 years for non-Malaysian non-citizens. If you are renting your HDB to Singaporeans, you need to make sure that your potential tenants do not already live in a public rental HDB or own a HDB flat (unless they are divorced, separated, or have rented out their entire HDB flat).
| Citizenship | HDB Rental Period |
|---|---|
| Singaporeans/ Malaysian tenants | 6 months to 3 years |
| Non-Malaysian (Permanent Residents or Foreigners) | 6 months to 2 years |
HDB Maximum Number of Tenants
Additionally, HDB enforces an occupancy cap based on the flat size—smaller flats (1-2 rooms) can accommodate up to 4 tenants, while larger flats (4 rooms and above) can house up to eight tenants.
| HDB Flat Type | Total Number of Tenants |
|---|---|
| 1-Room | 4 |
| 2-Room | 4 |
| 3-Room | 6 |
| 4-Room and bigger | 8 |
Rent out HDB Bedroom
If you prefer to rent out only bedrooms instead of the whole HDB flat, you can do so as long as you continue living in the unit. Bedroom rentals are only allowed for 3-room HDB flats and larger, and approval from HDB is required. The rental period follows the same duration rules as renting out a full flat (table above). The total number of people living in the flat, including the owner, family members, and tenants, cannot exceed the maximum occupancy cap (table above).
There are also additional rules for tenants. They must hold valid passes (such as an Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, or Student Pass) with at least 6 months’ validity at the time of rental.
| Citizenship | Can rent a HDB Bedroom? |
|---|---|
| Singaporeans (Cannot own HDB or live in public rental HDB) | Yes |
| Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) | Yes |
| Employment Pass | Yes |
| S Pass | Yes |
| Work Permit (Construction, marine, process sectors must be Malaysians) | Yes |
| Student Pass | Yes |
| Dependant Pass | Yes |
| Long Term Social Visit Pass | Yes |
| Tourists | No |
HDB also enforces the Non-Citizen Quota for flat rentals, which means that in certain blocks or neighbourhoods, there are limits on the number of non-Malaysian non-citizens allowed to rent.
Homeowners must ensure that their rental arrangements comply with HDB regulations. This includes conducting regular checks, reporting changes (such as tenant renewals or terminations) within seven days, and following all rental rules. Failure to comply can result in penalties or even compulsory acquisition of the flat by HDB.