Owners of HDB flats who sub-let rooms will have to register with HDB within 7 days of doing so.
The rule, taking effect from February 1, also requires owners to notify HDB when they renew or terminate the sub-letting of rooms, and when there are changes to their sub-tenants’ particulars.
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) said the new requirement will support the Ministry of Home Affairs’s efforts to eradicate loan-shark activities and better protect HDB residents.
Currently, some people use their old addresses to borrow from loansharks
while they rent a room in another HDB flat.
By moving their place of residence without updating addresses in their NRICs, new occupants of the flat end up being harassed by loan sharks while the borrowers are untraceable.
Through this new rule, the HDB will be able to capture the particulars of sub-tenants, while the MHA will be able to trace the movements of borrowers.
The new rule will apply to all new and existing cases of room sub-lets.
For those with existing sub-letting tenancies that commenced before February 1, owners have a 6-month grace period to register.
Those who flout the rule face a penalty of up to S$3,000 and may have their flat compulsorily acquired by the HDB if they repeatedly fail to comply with the new requirement.
The registration – which includes details of the tenant, duration and rental fees as well as family structure – can be done online or at the Branch Office, where HDB staff will be on hand to help.
Source: Channel News Asia, 12 Jan 2010
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