In a news story on the Government’s move to force landlords to pass on tax rebates to tenants, part of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill to be discussed in Parliament next week, published by the Straits Times on 3 April 2020, TSMP Head of Corporate Real Estate Jennifer Chia said that property tax rebates cannot be passed on directly to tenants as property taxes are not payable by them in the first place.

“Lease contracts generally do not make it mandatory that landlords share property tax rebates with tenants. The proposed new law brings much-needed transparency as to what rebates businesses can expect, so they can plan their expenses,” she added.