The S$700 storeroom: Inside Singapore's market for 'pocket-sized' rentals

Singapore's rent crisis has pushed some tenants to rent out smaller rooms, such as utility rooms or storerooms, instead of larger apartments. These "pocket rooms," often measuring around 2.9 square meters, can be found for as little as S$500 to S$900 per month. While the property listing sites and Facebook often list them as "pocket rooms," they typically have limited space, often featuring a bed that takes up the entire floor.

High demand and tight supply due to pandemic-related construction halts have led landlords to carve out smaller rooms to rent out, with some collecting up to S$6,000 a month. This practice is more common in private condominiums than HDB flats, where only bedrooms originally built by the authority can be rented out.