RES exam question on HDB Policies: his salesperson say
Mr Toh, a Singapore Citizen who has served his Minimum Occupation Period, wants to let his whole 4-room flat to four Employment Pass holders from Myanmar. A neighbour says the block has reached its Ethnic Integration Policy limit for Mr Toh's ethnic group, so the letting cannot proceed. What should his salesperson say?
- AThe neighbour has the wrong quota; the Non-Citizen Quota, not the Ethnic Integration Policy, governs this letting
- BThe neighbour is right, as the Ethnic Integration Policy applies to letting as well as to buying
- CThe flat may be let, but to tenants of an ethnic group still under its block limit
- DNo quota applies to the letting, the choice of tenants being a private matter for Mr Toh
Show answer & explanation
Answer
A. The neighbour has the wrong quota; the Non-Citizen Quota, not the Ethnic Integration Policy, governs this letting
Explanation
Answer: The neighbour has the wrong quota: the Non-Citizen Quota, not the Ethnic Integration Policy, governs a whole-flat letting to non-Malaysian non-citizens.Watch out: Check the block and neighbourhood still have room under that quota. The letting also needs HDB's approval, must respect the 8-tenant cap for a 4-room flat, and cannot exceed 2 years because the tenants are non-Malaysian non-citizens.Rule: The Ethnic Integration Policy and the Singapore Permanent Resident quota control who may buy in a block or neighbourhood, not renting out. A whole-flat letting to non-Malaysian non-citizens is capped by the Non-Citizen Quota, 8% of the neighbourhood and 11% of the block, which excludes Malaysians and bedroom rental.Source: hdb.gov.sg, Eligibility for Renting Out a Flat, read 1 Oct 2026
Why the other options are wrong
- Ethnic Integration Policy applies to letting too: The Ethnic Integration Policy controls who may buy a flat, not who may rent one.
- Let only to an ethnic group under its limit: The block's ethnic position has no bearing on the tenancy; the tenants' ethnic group is not tested.
- No quota applies; tenants are a private choice: The Non-Citizen Quota applies to a whole-flat letting to non-Malaysian non-citizens such as these tenants.
Study the concept behind this question: Renting Out an HDB Flat or Room: Approval, Quota, Tenants
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