COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 · Updated to 1 Jul 2026 · Part 2 · Temporary Relief for Inability to Perform Contracts
7B. Holding over after termination or expiry of lease or licence of non-residential immovable property
Last amended by an amending law of 2020.
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
This section applies to a case mentioned in section 5 where —
the scheduled contract is a lease or licence of non-residential immovable property; and
the subject inability is the inability to vacate the property after the termination or expiry of the lease or licence and before the end of the prescribed period.
Despite any law or anything in the contract, if —
the subject inability is caused by a COVID-19 event; and
such conditions as may be prescribed are also satisfied,then the lessee or licensee is not liable to pay the lessor or licensor any sums that the lessee or licensee is otherwise liable to pay under the law or contract for the inability, in excess of such amount as may be prescribed.
For the purposes of subsection (2), different amounts may be prescribed for different circumstances, and a zero amount may be prescribed.
Subsection (2) does not apply to such sums payable under any law or contract, or to such circumstances, as may be prescribed by regulations made under section 19.
Subsection (2) does not apply if —
the notification for relief is withdrawn; or
an assessor makes a determination that the case in question is not one to which section 5 applies.
To avoid doubt, subsection (2) does not —
limit the operation of section 5;
affect any other rights and liabilities of the parties to the lease or licence; or
affect any compromise or settlement made before the service of the notification for relief.
To avoid doubt, this section applies to a case mentioned in subsection (1) whether A served the notification for relief before, on or after 31 July 2020.
notification for relief
“notification for relief” means a notification mentioned in section 9(1);
Terms defined in this Act
assessor
Defined · s 2“assessor” means a person appointed to the panel of assessors under section 11;
COVID‑19 event
Defined · s 2“COVID‑19 event” means —(a)the COVID‑19 epidemic or pandemic; or(b)the operation of or compliance with any law of Singapore or another country or territory, or an order or direction of the Government or any statutory body, or of the government or other public authority of another country or territory, being any law, order or direction that is made by reason of or in connection with COVID‑19;
notification for relief
Defined · s 2“notification for relief” means a notification mentioned in section 9(1);
prescribed period
Defined · s 2“prescribed period” —(a)in relation to Part 1 or 3 — means the period prescribed under section 3 as extended or shortened under that section for Part 1 or 3; and(b)in relation to any scheduled contract in Part 2 — means the period prescribed under section 3 as extended or shortened under that section for that Part or for a description of contracts to which that contract belongs, as the case may be;
scheduled contract
Defined · s 2“scheduled contract” means a contract within a description of contracts set out in the First Schedule, but not one that falls within such description of contracts as may be prescribed;
Part 2A
Rental Relief and Related Measures
Part 3
Temporary Relief for Financially Distressed Individuals, Firms and Other Businesses
Part 4
Temporary Measures for Conduct of Meetings
Part 5
Temporary Measures for Court Proceedings and Syariah Court Proceedings
Part 6
Temporary Measures Concerning Remission of Property Tax
Part 7
COVID‑19 Control Orders
Part 8
Contracts Affected by Delay in the Performance or Breach of a Construction Contract, Supply Contract or Related Contract
Part 8A
Extension of Time for Construction Contracts
Part 8B
Temporary Measures for Cost-Sharing in Construction Contracts
Part 8C
Part 9
Temporary Measures for Conduct of Collective Sale of Property
Part 10
Further Reliefs for Specified Contracts
Part 10A
Part 11
Part 12