Statute Details
- Title: Residential Property (Goodland Group Limited — Exemption) Notification 2021
- Act Code: RPA1976-S607-2021
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Residential Property Act (Cap. 274)
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Law (pursuant to section 32(1) of the Residential Property Act)
- Notification Number: S 607/2021
- Commencement: 13 August 2021
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (as extracted): Exemptions from approvals under sections 9, 28, 28A and 31 of the Residential Property Act; conditions in the Schedule
- Relevant Entity: Goodland Group Limited (the “relevant company”)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Residential Property (Goodland Group Limited — Exemption) Notification 2021 is a targeted regulatory instrument issued under the Residential Property Act (Cap. 274). In plain terms, it creates a set of exemptions for a specific company—Goodland Group Limited—from certain approval requirements that would otherwise apply when the company undertakes particular residential property transactions and development activities.
Singapore’s Residential Property Act generally regulates how residential property may be acquired, converted, rezoned, and developed, including by requiring approvals for certain changes of use or development plans. These controls are designed to manage housing supply, protect residential land use planning, and ensure that development outcomes align with policy objectives.
This Notification does not repeal the Residential Property Act. Instead, it carves out defined circumstances in which the Act’s approval provisions do not apply to Goodland Group Limited. The exemptions are tightly framed around the company’s intended development of residential property for profit through sale or disposal after conversion or acquisition.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the formal title and states that the Notification comes into operation on 13 August 2021. For practitioners, this date is critical because the exemptions in later provisions apply only to relevant property and transactions occurring “before, on or after” (for conversion) or “on or after” (for acquisition and ownership) 13 August 2021.
2. Exemption from need for approval to become a “converted entity” (Section 2)
Section 2 addresses a specific regulatory pathway: conversion into a “converted entity”. It states that section 9 of the Act does not apply to Goodland Group Limited in relation to residential property that meets three cumulative conditions:
- (a) The property is not “non-restricted residential property”. In other words, the exemption is limited to residential property that falls within the relevant category for which section 9 would otherwise be relevant.
- (b) The property is vested in the company immediately before its conversion into a converted entity occurring before, on or after 13 August 2021.
- (c) The property is intended for development as residential property, with the ultimate purpose of sale or disposal by the company as residential property for profit, after conversion.
Practically, this provision helps the company avoid an approval step that would otherwise be required when it converts into a converted entity, provided the property is already vested in it and the intended development and profit-disposal purpose is satisfied.
3. Exemption from need for approval to change existing use (Section 3)
Section 3 provides that section 28 of the Act does not apply to the company in relation to land that:
- (a) is acquired, owned or purchased by the company on or after 13 August 2021; and
- (b) is intended for change of use to and development as residential property, again with the ultimate purpose of sale or disposal for profit.
This is a significant development-related exemption. It targets situations where the company needs to change the land’s existing use in order to develop it as residential property. By removing the section 28 approval requirement, the Notification potentially accelerates development timelines—subject to compliance with the Schedule conditions.
4. Exemption from need for approval for rezoned land (Section 4)
Section 4 extends the exemption framework to rezoned land. It states that section 28A of the Act does not apply to the company in relation to vacant land (whether or not with a vacant or disused building or structure) that:
- (a) is owned by the company on or after 13 August 2021; and
- (b) is intended for development as residential property with the ultimate purpose of sale or disposal for profit.
For practitioners, the “vacant land” definition is broad and includes land with vacant or disused buildings/structures. The exemption is therefore relevant to redevelopment projects where rezoning and clearance are part of the development process.
5. Exemption from need for housing developer’s approval (Section 5)
Section 5 is the most nuanced provision. It provides that section 31 of the Act does not apply to the company, subject to a key exception.
Under section 5(2), despite the general exemption, section 31(1) and (4) continues to apply for the retention of a dwelling-house that is a landed dwelling-house.
The Notification defines “landed dwelling-house” as a detached house, semi-detached house or terrace house (including a linked house or a townhouse), whether or not comprised within a strata title plan registered under the Land Titles (Strata) Act (Cap. 158).
From a legal risk perspective, this carve-out matters. It signals that the policy concern underlying section 31—particularly around retention and treatment of landed housing—remains applicable even where other approvals are exempted. Counsel should therefore carefully map any project involving retention of landed dwelling-houses to ensure the continuing requirements are met.
6. Conditions of exemption (Section 6 and the Schedule)
Section 6 states that the exemptions are subject to the conditions specified in the Schedule. While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule text, the legal effect is clear: the exemptions are not unconditional. Practitioners must obtain and review the Schedule conditions in full to determine:
- what procedural steps must be taken (e.g., notifications, reporting, or documentation);
- what substantive limits apply (e.g., project scope, timelines, or use restrictions); and
- what happens if conditions are breached (e.g., loss of exemption or enforcement consequences).
In practice, the Schedule is often where the operational compliance requirements sit. Without it, a practitioner cannot confidently advise on whether a particular transaction is fully covered by the exemption.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a straightforward manner:
- Enacting Formula confirming the Minister’s power under section 32(1) of the Residential Property Act.
- Sections 1 to 6 setting out: (i) citation and commencement; (ii) the four main exemption categories (conversion, change of use, rezoned vacant land, and housing developer’s approval); (iii) the conditions governing the exemptions.
- The Schedule containing the conditions to which the exemptions are subject.
For legal research and drafting purposes, the Notification is best read alongside the referenced provisions of the Residential Property Act—particularly sections 9, 28, 28A and 31—to understand what approvals are being disapplied and what regulatory objectives those approvals serve.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Notification applies specifically to Goodland Group Limited, referred to as the “relevant company” throughout. It is not a general exemption for all developers or all companies; it is a company-specific regulatory relief instrument.
However, the exemptions are not blanket. Each exemption is tied to particular property and transaction characteristics—such as whether the property is vested immediately before conversion, whether land is acquired/owned on or after 13 August 2021, whether the land is vacant (for rezoned land), and whether the development’s ultimate purpose is sale or disposal for profit. Accordingly, the company must still demonstrate that the relevant project facts fall within the statutory conditions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Notification is important because it can materially affect the development approval pathway for Goodland Group Limited. By disapplying specified approval requirements, it potentially reduces regulatory friction, shortens timelines, and clarifies that certain development steps do not require the approvals otherwise mandated under the Residential Property Act.
From a practitioner’s standpoint, the Notification is also valuable for risk management. The exemptions are carefully bounded by:
- date thresholds (notably 13 August 2021);
- property classifications (including the “not non-restricted residential property” limitation);
- purpose of development (ultimate sale/disposal for profit); and
- project type carve-outs (notably the continuing application of section 31 for retention of landed dwelling-houses).
These boundaries mean that counsel should not assume coverage based solely on the company’s identity. Instead, a fact-specific legal analysis is required for each property and development plan, including compliance with the Schedule conditions.
Finally, because the Notification is “current version as at 27 Mar 2026,” practitioners should verify whether any amendments exist after 13 August 2021 that could alter the scope or conditions. The extract indicates a current version status, but the Schedule content and any later amendments are essential for accurate advice.
Related Legislation
- Residential Property Act (Cap. 274) — particularly sections 9, 28, 28A and 31 (as referenced in this Notification)
- Land Titles (Strata) Act (Cap. 158) — relevant to the definition of “landed dwelling-house” for the section 31 carve-out
- Residential Property Act — Legislation Timeline (for version control and amendment history)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Residential Property (Goodland Group Limited — Exemption) Notification 2021 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.