95 HDB owners found subletting flats illegally
my paper
Wed, Apr 13, 2011
STEPPED-UP enforcement efforts by the Housing Board have paid off, with a total of 95 flat owners taken to task last year for unauthorised subletting.
Of those caught, HDB took compulsory- acquisition action against 39 flat owners who had infringed subletting rules blatantly.
In one such instance, a flat at the Pinnacle@
Duxton was acquired by HDB after inspections conducted in May and June last year found that the owners had sublet the entire flat without approval. The owners' bedroom was locked and only the sub-tenants' shoes, clothing and belongings were found in the flat.
Investigations revealed that the owners had no intention of living in the flat and had bought it purely for monetary gain.
HDB carried out 7,000 flat inspections last year, up from 3,000 inspections in 2009.
Feedback from members of the public led to 1,800 of last year's inspections being conducted, almost double the number of feedback received in 2009.
In a statement yesterday, HDB said it takes a "very serious view" of any unauthorised subletting.
A spokesman said: "We will take stern action against owners, including compulsory acquisition, even if it is the owners' first infringement.
"This is especially for cases where flat owners had bought the flat purely for monetary gains, with no intention of occupying it."
In cases where flat owners try to circumvent the rules by locking up one room and subletting the rest of the flat without physically living in it, the spokesman said: "Such cases will be treated as unauthorised subletting of the entire flat."
HDB reminds all owners that their flats are meant primarily to be occupied by owners. Flat owners who wish to sublet their entire flats must meet the Minimum Occupation Period and obtain HDB's prior approval.
Members of the public can call HDB's dedicated hotline on 1800-555-6370 to report suspected cases of unathorised subletting. All feedback will be kept strictly confidential
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