Short-Term Serviced Apartments in Singapore: Minimum Stays, Rules and How to Choose

When a stay is too short for a normal lease but too long for a hotel, a serviced apartment is usually the answer in Singapore — and one of the few legal ways to stay under three months. Here is how serviced apartments are regulated, the minimum stay, and what to check before you book.

What counts as a serviced apartment in Singapore

A serviced apartment is not simply a furnished flat. To operate one, the owner must obtain Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) planning permission for serviced-apartment use, and the development must be under single ownership — strata subdivision is not allowed. That means an individual condo unit advertised online cannot legally call itself a serviced apartment. Genuine serviced apartments can be let for a minimum of 7 days, far shorter than the 3-month floor on ordinary private homes and the 6-month minimum on HDB flats. Operating or taking unapproved short-term accommodation is an offence under the Planning Act, carrying fines of up to S$200,000 and possible imprisonment. Always confirm a property is properly approved; our short-term rental guide covers the wider rules.

A continuing offence can also draw a further fine of S$10,000 for each day it persists after conviction, so the saving from an unlicensed let is rarely worth the exposure. A licensed serviced apartment, by contrast, gives you a clear contract, a registered operator and none of that risk.

Minimum stays compared

What to check before booking

• Approval: confirm it is a licensed serviced apartment or an approved shophouse, not an unlicensed condo let.
• Minimum stay: check it accepts your dates at the seven-day-plus level.
• What is included: serviced apartments usually bundle utilities, Wi-Fi, housekeeping and furnishings.
• Total cost versus a hotel: for a month, compare the all-in weekly or monthly rate against a monthly hotel stay, not the nightly headline.
• Flexibility: check notice periods and whether you can extend.

Serviced apartment, coliving or monthly hotel?

For one to a few weeks, a serviced apartment or a monthly hotel is simplest. For a longer stay, a coliving room often costs less per month than a serviced apartment and adds a ready-made community; Figment’s homes take URA-approved bookings from a 3-month minimum, with monthly rental options on a month-to-month basis thereafter. For three months and up, a standard longer stay usually gives the best value of all.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum stay at a serviced apartment in Singapore?

Seven days. This is much shorter than the three-month minimum for an ordinary condo or the six-month minimum for an HDB flat.

Can any condo be rented as a serviced apartment?

No. Serviced apartments must sit under single ownership with URA approval, and strata-subdivided condo units do not qualify. A condo let for under three months is unauthorised short-term accommodation.

Are serviced apartments cheaper than hotels?

For longer stays they often work out lower per night, because rates ease with length and utilities, Wi-Fi and cleaning are included. For one or two nights, a hotel is usually simpler.