Govt to impose cap on rental of HDB flats to foreigners

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The Government will impose a cap on the proportion of units that can be rented out to foreigners in a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.

The quantum of the cap has not been decided and the Ministry of National Development (MND) will provide details later.

“We need to maintain the Singaporean character of our heartlands... I am mindful of the need to balance the impact on those who rely on subletting for additional income, especially the elderly.” Mr Khaw said.

Today, on average, less than 4 per cent of HDB flats are sublet to foreigners, excluding Malaysians. However, the proportion could go up to 9 per cent in some areas or even 18 per cent in some blocks.

Property analysts welcomed the move, with Mr Colin Tan, Head of Research and Consultancy at Suntec Real Estate, suggesting that the authorities should go further by introducing a cap on the proportion of foreigners living in a private estate as well in order to maintain a “Singaporean character”.

West Coast GRC Member of Parliament Foo Mee Har, had cited in March complaints by residents such as “excessive noise” and littering by foreign workers, groups of whom tend to share a single flat.

She also suggested that the MND consider “purpose-built apartments or dormitories” for foreign workers. Doing so will “preserve communal space for Singaporeans, but … also set aside places for foreign workers to enjoy the social and cultural environment tailored to them”, she said.