Company and three senior management members face 37 charges for providing unauthorised short-term accommodation in private residential properties

1.  The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has charged International Service Apartments Pte Ltd (ISA) in court today with nine counts of unauthorised development of private residential properties. URA also charged the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ISA, Piao Xianfen (Piao, 38), with eight counts of unauthorised development of private residential properties. Two ISA directors, Liu Tak Ming Peter (Liu, 59) and Lee Ming Fong (Lee, 60) were each charged with 10 counts of the same offence. 

2.  The company and three individuals are alleged to have provided short-term accommodation at various private residential properties, which contravenes the Planning Act and are offences punishable under the Act. 

3.  The minimum stay duration for private residential properties is three consecutive months. This is to prevent frequent turnover of transient occupants, which changes the residential character of a property and could negatively impact neighbouring residents. 

4.  URA takes a serious stance on the illegal use of private residential properties to provide short-term accommodation. URA will continue to investigate and take strict enforcement action against those found to have committed such offences. If found guilty under the Planning Act, offenders can be fined up to $200,000 per charge.

5.  Members of the public play an important part in safeguarding their neighbourhoods against illegal short-term accommodation in private residential properties. For suspected cases of short-term accommodation at private residential properties, the public can provide feedback via URA’s website. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.