To help businesses keep the cost of starting up low, the Government has relaxed the rules on running home offices. You can now apply to run your business from your home under the Home Office Scheme.

What is the Home Office Scheme?
Who Qualifies For The Home Office Scheme?
Are There Any Restrictions?
Are There Any Ready-Built Home Offices?
Where Can I Find More Information?

• The Home Office Scheme allows businesses to run their operations from home.
  
  
• Both HDB and private homes can be used as home offices.
  
  
• All you need to do is register with Housing & Development Board (for HDB premises) or Urban Redevelopment Authority (for private premises).

back to top

Who Qualifies For The Home Office Scheme?

• To apply to run a home office, you must be the owner or tenant of a home, or be authorised to stay in the home.
  
  
• Most home-office businesses are small-scale traders and service providers engaged in activities such as import/export, e-commerce and consultancy.
  
  
• Businesses in the "Negative List" such as commercial schools and maid agencies do not qualify.
  
  
• Businesses who meet the "Small Business Guidelines" can operate from home without applying for the Home Office Scheme. E.g. Freelance writer or photographer.

Are There Any Restrictions?

• There are some restrictions and/or performance criteria imposed on home offices to ensure businesses do not cause annoyance to other residents.
  
  
• For instance:

• The business activities must not generate smoke, noise or other forms of pollution.
  
  
• You cannot hire more than 2 non-residential employees or display external signboards and advertisements.
  
  
• You must also comply with fire safety requirements, such as the need to install a smoke detector and fire extinguisher.

See:	List of performance criteria for home offices

Are There Any Ready-Built Home Offices?

• Work Loft @ Chip Bee Gardens, managed by JTC, offers home-office units, furnished and equipped with broadband for those in the creative media, advertising, public relations and arts-related industries.
  
  
• There are 20 units located at Chip Bee Gardens, Holland Village.
  
  
• Each unit is approximately 122 - 132 sqm (accommodates about 5-6 people) and is divided into 80% workspace and 20% living area.
  
  
• Rental rates are about S$2,630 - S$2,830