Extension of temporary relaxation of occupancy cap for rental of HDB flats and private residential properties until 31 December 2028

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will extend the temporary relaxation of the occupancy cap for rental of larger HDB flats and private residential properties for another two years, until 31 December 2028. This extension is a temporary measure which seeks to meet sustained rental demand.

2    The occupancy cap was first relaxed in January 2024 to allow 4-room and larger HDB flats and private residential properties of at least 90sqm to house up to eight unrelated persons (i.e. not from the same family unit), up from the previous cap of six, until 31 December 2026. More details are in the Annex [PDF, 138 KB].

3    The Government has progressively ramped up the supply of public and private housing. From 2023 to 2025, close to 100,000 homes were completed across the public and private residential markets. In 2026, an estimated 21,000 HDB flats and private homes are expected to be completed. While the increase in housing supply has helped to alleviate the tightness in the rental market and contributed to the moderation in the increase of residential rents, overall rental demand remains strong. HDB and URA have decided to extend the relaxation of the occupancy cap for a further two years, until the end of December 2028.

Prior Approval/Registration Required

4    HDB flat owners, as well as owners and tenants of HDB commercial properties with living quarters are required to seek HDB’s approval before the commencement of the tenancy. Applications to rent out HDB flats or bedrooms may be submitted online via HDB’s e-services, while owners and tenants of HDB commercial properties who wish to rent out their living quarters can apply via the GoBusiness Portal.

5    Owners of larger private residential properties of at least 90sqm who intend to qualify for this higher occupancy cap and rent out their properties to up to eight unrelated persons are required to register their properties with URA¹ via URA’s website². Upon successful registration, owners will be informed that they are authorised for the residential property to accommodate up to eight unrelated persons.

6    HDB flat owners, as well as owners and tenants of HDB commercial properties with living quarters and private residential property owners, including their tenants, are required to adhere to the occupancy cap and minimise dis-amenities to the public. The approval or authorisation to rent to up to eight unrelated persons will be revoked or cease in the event of serious dis-amenities.

7    We will continue to monitor the situation in the rental market closely, and review the need to extend the temporary relaxed occupancy cap beyond 2028.

Public Enquiries

8    For enquiries regarding the rental of HDB flats/living quarters, the public can write in using HDB’s e-Feedback form (go.gov.sg/hdb-write-to-us),or contact the HDB Branch Service Line at 6225-5432 (for HDB flats) or HDB Commercial Enquiry Line (for living quarters) at 6866-3073. For enquiries regarding rental of private residential properties, the public can contact URA via URA’s e-Feedback form (eservice.ura.gov.sg/feedbackWeb/) or the URA Development Control Line at 6223-4811.

¹ Owners of all private residential properties can continue to rent out their properties to up to six unrelated persons without the need for registration with URA.

² Registration can be done via URA’s website at https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Property/Residential/Renting-Property/Tmp-relaxation