Subletting of HDB Flats before Minimum Occupation Period Requirement is Met

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for National Development (a) for the last two years, what is the number of requests from house owners to HDB to sublet their whole HDB flat before the minimum occupation period (MOP) and, of these, how many were given approval to sublet their whole flat before the MOP; and (b) what are some of the valid reasons given for HDB to grant the approval.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Flat owners may sublet their flats after meeting the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). In 2012 and 2013, the Housing and Development Board granted approvals to 57,200 flat owners to sublet their flats. Of these, 1,800 approvals (3%) were for flats within the MOP. These flat owners were unable to occupy their flats for a short period of time due to valid reasons, such as overseas work or study.

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