Extension and Termination of Religious Organisations’ Short-Term Tenancies with Government

There are a number of religious organisations (“ROs”) in Bukit Batok, especially along Bukit Batok West Ave 8, whose leases have expired and were extended through short term leases whilst the Government undertook a review of the valuation of leases over land to be used for religious purposes. This review led to an announcement on 28 May 2023 that the ROs need not bid for the leases. Pursuant to feedback received from ROs, I filed a PQ asking whether they may terminate the short-term leases forthwith so as to renew their long-term leases. In Minister Shanmugam’s reply, he confirmed that they may do so. My PQ and Minister Shanmugam’s reply may be accessed below.

Mr Murali Pillai: To ask the Minister for Law with regard to the 24 religious organisations which currently have short-term tenancies with the Government over their respective properties to enable the Government to complete its review of land pricing policies, whether they have the option of applying to acquire long-term leases without bidding based on the new valuation system that was announced on 28 May 2023 from the third quarter of 2023 onwards and, upon successful acquisition of the leases, terminate their short-term tenancies before they expire with the value of the unexpired tenancy periods reimbursed to them where applicable.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Government had earlier advised Religious Organisations (ROs) with expiring leases to consider taking up short-term tenancies as the review of the Place of Worship (PW) land allocation and pricing framework was on-going. This was to allow these ROs to benefit from the revised framework once the review was completed. Now that the revised framework has been announced, ROs on these short-term tenancies can terminate the tenancy at any time by giving a one month termination notice, and transit to a long-term lease for their existing site right after the tenancy is terminated. They would not be subject to a balloting system for lease renewal.

As the rent for the tenancies is paid on a monthly basis, the tenant can pay the rent for the final monthly cycle in full or on a pro-rated basis. There is no need for reimbursement of rent from the unused tenancy period.

The Singapore Land Authority has reached out to ROs on the short-term tenancies to invite them to apply for lease renewal under the revised framework.