Social Residential Homes Act 2025

• Act Code: SRHA2025
• Version as at: 25 Jul 2026
• Enacted by: Parliament

Section 1 — Short title and commencement

This Act is the Social Residential Homes Act 2025 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.

Section 2 — General interpretation

(1) In this Act —“approved individual” means an individual whose —(a) appointment as a key appointment holder of a licensee; (b) appointment as the person‑in‑charge of a licensable SRH; or (c) deployment to carry out a prescribed duty or a

Section 3 — Suitability assessment

(1) For the purposes of assessing —(a) whether an applicant for a licence, an intended transferee or a licensee is a suitable person to operate a licensable SRH for the purposes of sections 8(2)(a), 13(3), 15(5) and 30(1)(d); (b) whether —(

Section 4 — Purposes of Act

The purposes of this Act are to regulate the operation of licensable SRHs, so as to ensure —(a) the safety, welfare and wellbeing of residents of the licensable SRHs; and (b) continuity of the provision of —(i) residential accommodation; an

Section 5 — Application of Act

This Act does not apply to, or in relation to, a social residential home operated by the Government.

Section 6 — Unauthorised operation of licensable SRH

(1) A person must not operate a licensable SRH unless the person —(a) is authorised to do so by a licence; (b) is exempt from this section; or (c) is directed by the Director‑General under section 26(3) to do so despite the expiry, lapse or

Section 7 — Application for or to renew licence

(1) An application for or to renew a licence must be made to the Director‑General in accordance with this section.(2) An application for or to renew a licence must —(a) be made in the form and manner specified by the Director‑General; (b) b

Section 8 — Grant of licence

(1) Subject to this section, after considering any application under section 7 for or to renew a licence, the Director‑General may —(a) on payment of —(i) a licence fee (if prescribed), grant the applicant a licence; or (ii) a renewal fee (

Section 9 — Licence validity

Every licence granted under this Part is in force for the period specified in the licence —(a) except when the licence is suspended under section 30(2)(b) or 32(2)(a)(i); or (b) unless the licence —(i) is surrendered under section 14; (ii)

Section 10 — Conditions of licence

(1) In granting a licence to any person, the Director‑General may impose any condition that the Director‑General considers necessary or expedient having regard to the purposes of this Act.(2) In particular, the Director‑General may impose c

Section 11 — Modification of conditions of licence

(1) Subject to this section, it is lawful for the Director‑General to modify the conditions of a licence without compensating the licensee concerned.(2) Before modifying any condition of a licence, the Director‑General must, unless subsecti

Section 12 — Licence condition on maximum capacity of licensable SRHs

(1) This section applies if, in granting a licence, the Director‑General specifies the maximum number of residents that a licensee may admit to the licensable SRH to which the licence relates (called in this section the maximum capacity), a

Section 13 — Restriction on transfer of licence

(1) A licence, and any rights, benefits or privileges under the licence, are not transferable or assignable to any other person unless the Director‑General consents in writing to the transfer or assignment.(2) An application for the Directo

Section 14 — Voluntary cessation of operation of licensable SRH or surrender of licence

(1) A licensee must not, without giving the Director‑General prior written notice —(a) wholly and permanently stop operating the licensable SRH to which the licence relates, except upon the lapsing of the licence; or (b) for any reason surr

Section 15 — Lapse of licence, etc.

(1) Where a licensee is not an individual, a licence for a licensable SRH lapses on the date the licensee ceases to exist, unless the licence had expired or was earlier revoked under section 30(1).(2) Where a licensee who is an individual d

Section 16 — Register of licensees

The Director‑General must cause to be kept and maintained a register of licensees in the form and manner, and containing the information, that the Director‑General thinks fit.

Section 17 — Appointment of key appointment holders

(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a licensee must ensure that, at all times when the licensee is operating a licensable SRH under the authority of a licence, a prescribed minimum number of key appointment holders is appointed by the l

Section 18 — Appointment of person‑in‑charge of licensable SRH

(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), a licensee must ensure that, at all times when the licensee is operating a licensable SRH under the authority of a licence, an individual is appointed by the licensee as the person‑in‑charge of the li

Section 19 — Deployment of individuals to carry out prescribed duties or classes of duties

(1) A licensee must not deploy an individual to carry out a prescribed duty or a duty belonging to a prescribed class of duties in relation to —(a) the operation of the licensable SRH to which the licensee’s licence relates; or (b) the mana

Section 20 — Application for approval

(1) An application for approval for a licensee to appoint an individual as a key appointment holder of the licensee must be made jointly by the licensee and the individual in accordance with this section.(2) An application for approval for

Section 21 — Grant of approval

(1) After considering an application for approval under section 20 for a licensee to —(a) appoint an individual as a key appointment holder of the licensee; (b) appoint an individual as the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH to which th

Section 22 — Conditions of approval

(1) In granting any approval under section 21, the Director‑General may impose any condition on the licensee or approved individual, or both, that the Director‑General considers necessary or expedient having regard to the purposes of this A

Section 23 — Modification of conditions of approval

(1) Subject to this section, it is lawful for the Director‑General to modify the conditions of an approval without compensating the licensee and approved individual concerned.(2) Before modifying any condition of an approval, the Director‑G

Section 24 — Codes of practice for licensees

(1) The Director‑General may —(a) issue one or more codes of practice applicable to all licensees or the licensees of one or more specified classes of licences; (b) approve as a code of practice applicable to all licensees or the licensees

Section 25 — Directions concerning safety, health, welfare and wellbeing of residents, etc.

(1) The Director‑General may give a direction to a licensee or an approved individual if the Director‑General —(a) has reasonable grounds to believe that there are circumstances that may endanger, or are likely to endanger, the safety, heal

Section 26 — Directions when licence expires, etc.

(1) This section applies where any of the following, each called in this section a relevant event, occurs:(a) a licence expires, or is expiring, but no application to renew the licence is made before the renewal deadline mentioned in sectio

Section 27 — Step‑in order

(1) The Minister may make an order under this section (called in this Part a step‑in order) if —(a) the licence of a licensee is suspended, revoked or surrendered; (b) a licensee —(i) is, or is likely to be, declared a bankrupt; (ii) has go

Section 28 — Duration of step‑in order or expedited step‑in order

(1) The Minister may revoke a step‑in order or an expedited step‑in order at any time.(2) The Minister may, at any time, revoke the appointment of a step‑in operator in relation to the operation, or a specified part of the operation, of a l

Section 29 — Rules and saving provisions for step‑in arrangements

(1) The Minister may make rules to give effect to this Part, including making provisions for applying, omitting or modifying provisions of any written law relating to the insolvency of companies (if applicable) where a step‑in order or an e

Section 30 — Revocation or suspension, etc., of licence

(1) Subject to section 31, if the Director‑General is satisfied that —(a) a licensee is contravening or not complying with, or has contravened or failed to comply with —(i) any condition of the licensee’s licence; (ii) any provision of this

Section 31 — Proceedings for regulatory action against licensees

(1) Before exercising any power under section 30(1) or (2), the Director‑General must give written notice to the licensee concerned —(a) stating that the Director‑General intends to take regulatory action under section 30; (b) specifying th

Section 32 — Immediate regulatory action against licensee

(1) Despite section 31, the Director‑General may make an interim order against a licensee where —(a) the licensee is charged for or convicted of any of the following offences committed during the term of the licence:(i) any offence under th

Section 33 — Regulatory action in respect of approved individuals

(1) Subject to section 34, the Director‑General may cancel (without compensation) an approval granted under section 21 for a licensee to —(a) appoint an approved individual as a key appointment holder of the licensee; (b) appoint an approve

Section 34 — Proceedings for regulatory action in respect of approval granted under section 21

(1) Before exercising any power under section 33(1) or (2), the Director‑General must give written notice to the licensee and approved individual concerned —(a) stating that the Director‑General intends to take regulatory action under secti

Section 35 — Immediate suspension of approval of approved individual

(1) Despite section 34, the Director‑General may make an interim order in relation to the approval granted under section 21 in respect of an approved individual where —(a) the approved individual is charged or convicted of any of the follow

Section 36 — Boards of Visitors

(1) The Minister may appoint one or more Boards of Visitors consisting of such number of members as the Minister thinks fit, to perform the functions mentioned in subsection (4).(2) The members of a Board of Visitors are appointed for the p

Section 37 — Use of reasonable force and mechanical restraints on residents

(1) This section does not limit or affect in any way the provisions or operation of the Penal Code 1871 or any other written law relating to any matter that may be dealt with under this section.(2) A person who carries on any duty in a lice

Section 38 — Restriction on publication or broadcast of information relating to residents of relevant licensed SRHs

(1) Except with the prior approval of the Director‑General, a person must not publish or broadcast any information or picture that identifies, or is likely to lead to the identification of —(a) any resident or former resident of a prescribe

Section 39 — Order to remove publication or broadcast in contravention of section 38

(1) A court may, on the application of any person, order a person to do any one or more of the following:(a) remove the publication, or stop the broadcast, of any information or picture that is in contravention of section 38(1); (b) remove

Section 40 — Purposes for which enforcement powers are exercisable

(1) An inspecting officer may exercise the powers set out in this Part for all or any of the following purposes:(a) to detect and investigate any offence under this Act; (b) to determine whether there is any ground for taking any regulatory

Section 41 — Powers of entry, etc., at premises

(1) An inspecting officer may without warrant enter, at all reasonable times, and remain at any premises —(a) that are used as a licensable SRH; or (b) that the inspecting officer has reasonable grounds to believe have been or are being use

Section 42 — Power to obtain information from licensee, etc.

(1) The powers in this section may be exercised only in relation to the following:(a) any licensee; (b) any employee or former employee of a licensee; (c) any key appointment holder or former key appointment holder of a licensee; (d) any pe

Section 43 — Power of examination

(1) An inspecting officer may, for the purposes of section 40(1), do all or any of the following:(a) require any person whom the inspecting officer reasonably believes to have committed an offence under any provision of this Act to provide

Section 44 — Application of Criminal Procedure Code 2010, etc.

(1) Sections 370, 371 and 372 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 apply, with the necessary modifications, when an inspecting officer seizes any thing under this Part.(2) An inspecting officer or a compliance officer (as the case may be) is

Section 45 — Obstructing inspecting officer

(1) If an inspecting officer is authorised under this Act to enter any premises, a person who —(a) wilfully prevents the inspecting officer from entering or re‑entering those premises or any part of those premises; (b) wilfully obstructs or

Section 46 — Notice to attend court

(1) Where it appears to an inspecting officer that any person has committed an offence under this Act, the inspecting officer may serve on the person a written notice in the prescribed form requiring the person to attend the court, at the h

Section 47 — Composition of offences

(1) The Director‑General may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following:(a

Section 48 — Interpretation of this Part

In this Part —“appealable decision” means any of the following decisions of the Director‑General:(a) a decision under section 8 refusing the grant or renewal of a licence; (b) a decision under section 10 imposing a condition in respect of a

Section 49 — Appeal to Minister

(1) An appellant who is aggrieved by an appealable decision may appeal to the Minister against the appealable decision in accordance with this section.(2) An appeal under this section must —(a) be in writing; (b) specify the grounds on whic

Section 50 — Designate may hear appeal in place of Minister

(1) The Minister may designate any of the following office‑holders in his or her Ministry to hear and determine, in the Minister’s place, any appeal made under section 49:(a) the Second Minister, if any; (b) any Minister of State or Senior

Section 51 — Authorised officers

(1) The Director‑General may, in relation to any provision of this Act, appoint any of the following individuals to be an authorised officer for the purposes of that provision, either generally or in a particular case:(a) a public officer;

Section 52 — Compliance officers

(1) The Director‑General may, with the general or specific approval of the Minister, appoint an individual who —(a) is not an employee of any public authority and not a public officer; (b) is at least 21 years of age; and (c) has suitable q

Section 53 — Protection of persons giving information to inspecting officer, etc.

(1) A person who knows, or has reason to suspect, that an offence under this Act has been committed may make a notification to an inspecting officer of the facts and circumstances on which the person’s knowledge or suspicion is based.(2) A

Section 54 — Protection from personal liability

No liability shall lie personally against any of the following persons who, acting in good faith and with reasonable care, does or omits to do anything in the execution or purported execution of this Act:(a) the Director‑General; (b) any au

Section 55 — Offences by corporations

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that c

Section 56 — Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships

(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an employee or agent of the uninc

Section 57 — Jurisdiction of courts

Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full punishment for the offence.

Section 58 — Service of documents

(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.(2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual may be served —(a) by giving it to t

Section 59 — Exemption

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons, or any premises or class of premises, from all or any of the provisions of this Act, either generally or in a particular case and subject to any condition tha

Section 60 — Amendment of Schedules

(1) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, amend, add to or vary the First or Second Schedule.(2) The Minister may, in an order under subsection (1), make any provision of a saving or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of t

Section 61 — Regulations

(1) The Minister may make regulations necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.(2) In particular, the Minister may make regulations for any of the following:(a) the form and manner in which, and

Section 62 — Amendment of Central Provident Fund Act 1953

In the Central Provident Fund Act 1953, in the Third Schedule —(a) delete item 19; and (b) after item 40, insert —“40A. Social Residential Homes Act 2025”.

Section 63 — Amendment of Children and Young Persons Act 1993

In the Children and Young Persons Act 1993 —(a) in the long title, delete “, to regulate homes for children and young persons”; (b) in section 2(1), after the definition of “foster parent”, insert —“ “Government home for children and young

Section 64 — Amendment of Destitute Persons Act 1989

In the Destitute Persons Act 1989 —(a) in section 2(1), after the definition of “Director‑General”, insert —“ “key appointment holder”, in relation to a licensee, has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Social Residential Homes Act 202

Section 65 — Amendment of Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017

In the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017, in the Schedule, in item 5, replace “Children and Young Persons Act 1993” with “Social Residential Homes Act 2025”.

Section 66 — Repeal of Homes for the Aged Act 1988

Repeal the Homes for the Aged Act 1988.

Section 67 — Saving and transitional provisions for adult disability homes

The Third Schedule has effect in relation to any adult disability home as defined in the First Schedule that was in operation immediately before the date of commencement of section 6.

Section 68 — Saving and transitional provisions for homes for children and young persons

The Fourth Schedule has effect in relation to any home for children and young persons as defined in the First Schedule that was in operation immediately before the date of commencement of section 6.

Section 69 — Saving and transitional provisions for sheltered homes

The Fifth Schedule has effect in relation to any sheltered home as defined in the First Schedule that was in operation immediately before the date of commencement of section 6.

Section 70 — Saving and transitional provisions for welfare homes

The Sixth Schedule has effect in relation to any welfare home as defined in the First Schedule that was in operation immediately before the date of commencement of section 6.

Section 71 — General saving and transitional provisions

(1) For a period of 2 years after the date of commencement of any provision of this Act, the Minister may, by regulations, prescribe any additional provisions of a saving or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of that provision