Here's a fact many Singaporeans are probably still unaware of: Yes, it is perfectly legal to operate a small scale business out of your Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat.

Under the Home Based Small Scale Business Scheme, a variety of vocations and businesses are allowed to be carried out from the comforts of one's own home.

But here's the catch: The purpose is to supplement household income, the business is restricted to a single-person operation without hiring additional employees and there are no major inconveniences caused that will affect the neighbours.

Here are some examples of permissible business activities that can be allowed in private and HDB residential premises via HDB's website:

- Baking on a small scale for sale, without turning the flat into a bakery

- Hairdressing, beauty, manicure, or pedicure services*

- Office work using a computer linked to the main office computer/ network

- Piecemeal work from a factory on a work rate basis

- Private tuition for not more than 3 students at a time

- Sewing work

- Work as a freelance artist, journalist, photographer, or writer

* Massage services are not allowed in HDB flats.

Yes, HDB has made it clear that massage services are not allowed.

These examples provided by HDB are also similar to the guidelines on the Urban Redevelopment Authority website.

However, the URA guidelines appear more precise. For the baking example, they stated that sale of products can only be to "friends".

4. the resident baking cakes at home on a small scale for sale to his/her friends without turning the place into a bakery

Therefore, to have as little doubt as possible about what the guidelines are, it is preferable to refer to both HDB and URA for details.

But as a rule-of-thumb, home businesses must adhere to these guidelines without flouting HDB rules:

- Activities are only conducted to supplement the household income

- Business must not adversely affect neighbours’ peace and tranquillity, nor impact their enjoyment of the estate’s residential ambience

- Activities do not cause any nuisance, for example, noise, smoke, odour, chemical/ liquid waste, dust, and/ or litter

- No external advertising or business signboard on the flat and/ or doors/ windows

- Flat is still used for residential purposes

- No hiring of any worker/ staff

- Flat address cannot be used for business registration

- No use of heavy equipment or appliances other than those for domestic household use

- No loading/ unloading of goods related to the business

- No excessive human or vehicular traffic

- Business activities must comply with the rules and regulations of the relevant authorities, for example:

+ National Environment Agency, for food hygiene

+ Fire Safety and Shelter Department, for fire safety requirements

- Activities must not result in complaints from neighbours

Top photo via Lookbox Living