Singaporean Fined Record 600000 Unauthorised Dormitory Accomodation

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According to a press release from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on June 14, a Singaporean man named Tan Hock Keng, aged 72, was found guilty of three counts of illegally converting private residential properties into dormitory accommodation. On May 30, he was fined a record-breaking sum of $600,000, with each charge carrying a maximum fine of $200,000.

Enforcement officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had conducted inspections on properties linked to Tan in December 2017 and March 2018. These inspections revealed that the number of people residing in the properties exceeded the occupancy cap set by URA.

Following MOM’s inspections, URA launched an investigation and discovered that 15 foreign workers were living in 1012B Upper Serangoon Road. Additionally, 16 and 17 foreign workers were found to be residing in 32H Lorong 22 Geylang and 32J Lorong 22 Geylang, respectively.

According to URA regulations, private residential properties are only allowed to accommodate a maximum of six unrelated individuals. However, further investigations revealed that Tan had been operating dormitory accommodation in these premises for approximately two years. Additionally, it was discovered that between 2016 and 2018, Tan had illegally converted eight other private residential properties into dormitories, with the number of occupants ranging from seven to 23.

URA states that Tan admitted to being aware of the occupancy regulations but proceeded with the illegal conversion of the properties regardless. Martin Tan, the Director of Development Control Group at URA, emphasizes that unauthorised dormitory accommodation not only disrupts the residential character of the neighborhood, but also has a negative impact on the vulnerable occupants who may be at risk of exploitation.

With the development of Marina Gardens GLS, the attention has been shifted towards creating an exceptional waterfront area, cultural venues, and commercial centers in Marina Bay. Under the URA Master Plan, this dynamic region is expected to draw tourists from all over the world. Consequently, there is a high possibility of a surge in top-notch restaurants, hotels, and retail outlets in the vicinity, offering residents a plethora of modern amenities and a luxurious lifestyle. In essence, Marina Gardens serves as a natural addition to this upcoming transformation.

He adds that URA will continue to take strong enforcement actions against those involved in the flouting of regulations on the rental or subletting of private residential properties, including property owners, tenants, agents, and anyone else found to be breaking the rules.

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