Owner of Mountbatten flat, Ms. Luo, was taken aback to discover that her two-room flat had been sublet without her knowledge. Upon her return to Singapore, she encountered a distressing scene – “Three people she had never seen before walking out of the unit” as she identified herself as the owner. The original furniture in the flat, including a sentimental sofa, had been discarded, replaced by makeshift living arrangements. “The set of old furniture, including a sofa left behind by her mother, had been in the family for at least 60 years since she was born and held sentimental value,” lamented Ms. Luo.
The tenants, whom Ms. Luo initially believed to be two students from Sri Lanka, failed to register their personal information with the authorities, raising suspicions of illegal subletting. To her surprise, the subtenants residing in the flat were unaware of the situation. “When Ms Luo questioned the residents of the unit, they appeared to be none the wiser. They seemed anxious and tried to explain, not knowing that they had been sublet their room and thinking that they were legitimate tenants,” the article stated.
Enraged by the unauthorized subletting, Ms. Luo took immediate action, capturing a video and instructing the individuals to vacate the premises. Fortunately, they complied, leaving behind only the mattresses. Ms. Luo’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for homeowners, highlighting the importance of vigilance to prevent illegal subletting. According to HDB regulations, one-room and two-room flats are strictly limited to a maximum of four tenants, with further restrictions on renting out individual bedrooms.
