The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is investigating the cases of BTO flats that are being put up for sale on the open market after being left vacant by the owners for years.
There were also other reports of BTO flats that appeared to have never had any residents living in them being listed for sale.
HDB’s MOP (minimum occupancy period) states that owners need to live in the BTO flats for at least 5 years before they are allowed to sell them on the open market.
Between 2017 to November this year, HDB has taken action in 53 cases against flat owners who didn’t occupy their units during the MOP period, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Of the 53 cases, the flats were seized by HDB in 21 cases with the rest being given warnings and/or fines.
HDB said that they carry out about 500 inspections monthly to detect crimes such as illegal renting of flats, as well as to detect housing rules violations.
Investigations will be carried out on suspected cases of violations like flats that are being sold without being occupied by the owners.