For residential leases in Singapore, the key rule is the minimum stay of 3 months. As long as the tenancy agreement itself is for at least 3 months, the URA rules are met.
However, frequent change of occupiers every 2 to 3 months can still raise issues:
1. URA doesn’t forbid change of occupants, but…
If it starts to look like short-term accommodation or a rotating arrangement similar to Airbnb, authorities may view it as non-compliant even if the contract says 3 months.
2. The landlord must update HDB or ICA records (if required).
For HDB units, every change of occupier needs approval. Changing people every 2 to 3 months usually won’t be approved.
For private condos, owners still need to register foreign occupants’ details and keep records. Too many changes is a red flag.
3. Condo management may object.
MCSTs often monitor visitor traffic. If they keep seeing new “residents”, they may report it as suspected short-term stay.
4. Company leases aren’t blanket exemptions.
Even with a corporate lease, the occupier should ideally stay for at least 3 months per person to remain safely within the guidelines.
So the safe rule is:
If each individual occupant does not stay at least 3 months, you start to risk breaching the short-term stay rules.
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