Land Policy & Administration
In land scarce Singapore, optimising the use of land resources is integral to sustaining Singapore’s economic and social growth.
MinLaw formulates and reviews the following policies to support the optimal use of land resources:
- Residential Property Act
The Residential Property Act (RPA) strikes a balance between ensuring that the limited supply of landed houses in Singapore remain the primary preserve of citizens, whilst allowing selected foreigners who contribute significantly to Singapore’s economy to also own landed houses, for the purpose of attracting and retaining talent. Foreigners who wish to purchase landed houses have to submit an application to the Land Dealings Approval Unit at the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to purchase of residential property by foreigners under the RPA.
- Land Acquisition Act
The Land Acquisition Act (LAA) is a key legislation that enables the compulsory acquisition of private land to support many major infrastructure projects (e.g. road and rail infrastructure). Landowners whose land is acquired are paid market value compensation under the LAA. If they are dissatisfied with the statutory compensation, they can appeal to the Appeals Boards for Land Acquisition.
- Land Titles (Strata) Act
The sale of private strata developments in an en bloc sale, or collective sale, facilitates redevelopment and supports urban rejuvenation. The procedures to complete an en bloc sale successfully are governed by the Land Titles (Strata) Act.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to collective sale.
MinLaw is also the guardian of State land. Its Statutory Board, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), manages 14,000 hectares of State land and about 5,000 State buildings.
SLA provides the following land administration services:
- Selling and leasing land to the public and private sector, and allocating land to support national development
The SLA facilitates the sale and leasing of State land to both the public and private sector for various uses, such as public housing, industrial development, community uses. The integrity of the land allocation and administration process is critical to meet ever-changing socio-economic needs, and to maintain confidence in land transactions.
- Registration of land and property transactions and the issuance and guarantee of land titles in Singapore
Land rights are of vital social and economic importance to the people, because they form the basis on which many economic and business activities can take place. The high level of home and property ownership in Singapore also necessitates a secure land titles registration system. Land titles are stored with the SLA, the national land registration authority for property transactions and the issuance and guarantee of land titles in Singapore.
- Maintaining a national database through digitised land information services, and licenses land data for online and printed street maps
Recognising the importance of providing timely and accurate land information, SLA also maintains a national database through digitised land information services, and licenses land data for online and printed street maps.
- Maintaining the national land survey systems which is based on a coordinated cadastral survey system
SLA also takes charge of the national land survey systems which is based on a coordinated cadastral survey system. The Land Surveyors Board provides for the registration of surveyors, practice of land survey by registered individuals and regulates corporations which supply survey services.