You are here: Developer & Building Professionals > Development Control Matters > Change of Use of premises > Approved residential properties are for long term stays. How do I know if a residential property is put to an inappropriate use?

Approved residential properties are for long term stays. How do I know if a residential property is put to an inappropriate use?

Residential properties like apartments, flats, condominium units and landed houses are approved for residential purpose in accordance with the residential zone in the Master Plan. These residential properties or their individual rooms within the premises should not be rented out on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Such short-term occupancy, with transient occupiers, creates disturbances and inconveniences to other bona fide residents in the development. Premises that are approved for residential use are for longer term stays of 6 months or more.
The leasing of residential properties (whole unit) or subletting of rooms for residential purpose should be for long term stays of 6 months or more by the same occupiers and the following requirements should be observed:
1. Refrain from constructing internal partitioning works to alter the layout of the residential premises to create more rooms as this will cause over-crowding and pose safety concerns. The original unit should still be used as a single dwelling unit even though it might be shared by a few tenants.
2. In the case of master tenancies or en-bloc leasing-out situations [e.g. where a single agent leases out several units in a development], there shall be only one single tenancy agreement per residential unit to cover the requisite number of occupants for the unit. This is to retain the residential character of the development. Separate leasing of independent rooms within a single residential unit on an en-bloc basis will constitute a material change in the use of the residential premises to a hostel or dormitory and is not allowed. However, this requirement of a single tenancy agreement per residential apartment unit does not apply to situations where a single property / individual flat owner leases out rooms within his unit to different tenants under separate tenancy agreements.
3. To prevent overcrowding and disamenity to the neighbouring residents, the maximum allowable occupancy of a residential unit (inclusive of the owner if he is living within the premises) shall be based on 10 sqm per occupant subject to a maximum cap of 8 occupants. This occupancy guideline does not apply if the entire unit is occupied by a family with no subletting involved.