A Singapore traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner has spoken out about the steep rents for Housing and Development Board (HDB) shoplots, after losing out on a unit in Sengkang that was ultimately leased for S$14,000 per month.
In a TikTok video posted in June, TCM physician and founder of mobile clinic The TCM Folks, Tan Yuan Ming, described how he had attempted to secure a 527 square feet unit at Block 279, Sengkang East Avenue.
Tan questioned: “How can Singaporeans afford to pay S$9,288 a month for a 527-square-foot commercial unit?”
He described his shock as tender prices escalated far beyond his budget, arguing that the current bidding system risks pricing out newcomers.
Failed attempts to secure a unit
Tan recounted that he had previously attempted to bid for a unit starting at S$3,200.
“We thought we could afford it, but eventually it went up to S$7,000, and we had to give up,” he said.
In his latest attempt, he again targeted a unit that began at S$3,200.
However, the bids quickly escalated to S$9,288, then S$9,388, before hitting S$10,088.
Ultimately, the shoplot, located at 279 Sengkang East Avenue, closed at S$14,000 when awarded to Q & M Dental Centre (Somerset) Pte Ltd.
Tan, who had entered a modest bid of S$4,700, lamented: “Why did I even try?”
Debate over the bidding system
In his video, Tan expressed mixed feelings about HDB’s e-bidding framework.
Initially, he defended the process, believing it ensured fairness by granting units to those able to pay.
However, he later admitted that “newer businesses will probably never be able to enter” under such conditions.
Tan reflected that a ballot system might offer fairer opportunities by giving smaller players a chance to compete, instead of allowing prices to spiral uncontrollably through bidding wars.
Public reaction and online commentary
The post drew hundreds of responses. Some argued that HDB should prioritise small business applicants over established chains, suggesting that larger brands should be confined to shopping malls.
Others contended that inflated rents ultimately harm residents, as businesses pass costs on to consumers, pushing up the cost of living.
One comment wrote: “The current bid system will result in long-term unhealthy outcomes. Public units should support diversity and give space for small businesses to grow.”
Conversely, some defended the system as a reflection of market forces, stating that companies voluntarily bid high and accept the risks.
Wider concerns over rental hikes
Tan’s experience reflects broader anxieties among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore.
Former food and beverage (F&B) owner Khoo Keat Hwee highlighted recently that tenders had reached unsustainable levels, citing a February 2024 coffee shop lease in Tampines awarded at more than S$88,000 a month.
Coffee shop rents have climbed to record highs, prompting concerns about food affordability and the survival of small operators.
In June, a separate S$52,188 bid for a general practitioner clinic in Tampines drew a rare public comment from Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who described the figure as “dismaying”.
In response, the Ministry of Health and HDB introduced a revised Price-Quality Method (PQM) in May 2025.
Under this framework, 70% of evaluation weight is placed on service quality, with rental offers accounting for the remaining 30%.
The aim is to discourage bidding wars that favour only the highest bidder, while promoting better service delivery to residents.
Broader calls for rental reform
In May, a bakery near Sembawang Road saw a 15% increase in rent, while a cake shop in Siglap faced a jump from S$5,400 to S$8,500—an increase of 57%—which led its owner to shut down.
On 12 June, advocacy group Singapore Tenants United For Fairness (SGTUFF) called for urgent structural reforms to help SMEs stay afloat.
Their recommendations include short-term relief and long-term policy recalibration.
Among their proposals: rental caps tied to inflation and a national reassessment of urban planning and commercial land use priorities.
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