9. Singapore Land Authority (SLA))
SLA’s Land Titles Registry handles the registration of all property transactions in Singapore, including:
- Landed properties, such as bungalows, terrace houses and semi-detached houses;
Flats, whether private or HDB; and - Commercial and industrial properties.
The land register shows who owns the land and whether there are encumbrances, such as mortgages or charges affecting the land.
Two land registers co-exist, namely:
- The Register of Deeds for Common Law land under the Registration of Deeds Act;
- The Land Titles Register for titles land under the Land Titles Act.
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Application for land
● Rental of State Properties
Vacant State properties not earmarked for immediate development are put up for rent in the interim period. These properties can be used for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The rental of these properties is managed either by SLA or our managing agents.
SLA-managed properties, comprising mainly premises previously used for schools, community centres and camps, are generally available for rental through tender. Besides an open tender, SLA also conducts the Ideas Tender Scheme.
Agent-managed properties, mainly residential and commercial, can be rented directly from the agents.
The tenure for State properties varies. Some are rented out through tenancies where the tenure depends on the development time-frame for the properties, while others are rented out through Temporary Occupation Licenses (TOLs). TOLs either cover a fixed short term or are renewable on a monthly or yearly basis.
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● Short-term Rental of State Properties
SLA rents out vacant State lands and buildings through Temporary Occupation Licenses (TOLs) and Tenancy Agreements (TAs). TOLs are generally for a short fixed term or can be on a monthly or yearly renewable basis. TAs are for fixed terms, up to a maximum of three years per term.
TOLs and TAs can be issued for a range of uses such as worksites, site offices, mini fairs, trade expositions, carnivals, offices, schools, hospitals and places of worship amongst others.
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● Purchase of State Land
– Sale of Remnant Land
Some parcels of State land by virtue of their small size and/or irregular shape are not suitable for independent development. These parcels of State land are commonly referred to as remnant land.
Remnant land can add substantial value to adjoining private lands when amalgamated with the private lands. To optimise the use of these remnant lands, the Government encourages private landowners to purchase and amalgamate them with their private lands. The Government may in suitable cases also require developers/owners to do so.
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Trespassing of State Land
State Lands Encroachments Act (CHAPTER 315)
Penalties for trespassing
1) Any person who —
unlawfully enters into possession of any State land, either by residing or by erecting any building or hut thereon or by clearing, enclosing or cultivating any part thereof;
unlawfully trespasses on State land by depositing, placing or throwing any article or thing whatsoever, or any waste, refuse or other thing, thereon; or
Directly or indirectly abets the commission of such an act or trespass by another person, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, and a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all proceedings under this subsection and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code [Cap. 68], shall have the power to impose the full penalty or punishment provided by this subsection.
[23/74]
2) Any person who —
Unlawfully enters upon any State land and cuts timber or produce thereon; or
Directly or indirectly abets the commission of such an act by another person,
shall be liable for a first offence to a fine not exceeding $200, and, for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, and a Magistrate’s Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all proceedings under this subsection.
3) Where an offence under subsection (1) has been committed by a company or an association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, partner, secretary or other officer thereof or was purporting to act in such capacity shall also be deemed to be guilty of such offence unless he proves that the offence was committed without his consent or connivance and that he exercised all such diligence to prevent the commission of the offence as he ought to have exercised having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances.
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