FAQs: COVID-19
Some important things to note during your stay with Hmlet
Last updated: 25 May 2022
At Hmlet, we understand the uncertainty surrounding the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation, which is why we will be constantly updating this COVID-19 FAQ page in a bid to help quell any doubts.
As your health and security are our top priorities, we would like to reassure you that we are actively taking all necessary precautions to ensure a high level of cleanliness is observed at all our properties.
Below we have prepared a list of FAQs pertaining to COVID-19 for your quick reference.
What are the safe-distancing measures Hmlet is taking for apartment viewings?
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, we will be conducting virtual tours (in the form of 3D Matterports) for our properties as much as possible.
If physical viewings are needed, Hmlet will take appropriate safety precautions* to ensure the health and safety of our current Members, potential Members and staff.
Based on the Singapore Government’s latest update on 26 April 2022, there will no longer be a limit to the number of people you can have visiting your home at any one time. Viewing groups will still be kept small so as not to disrupt our current Members.
To our current Members, we greatly appreciate your understanding in allowing for viewings to happen as they are a preference for some, we will do our best to keep them short and follow all safety precautions.
*Safety precautions include (but not limited to):
- Asking potential Members if they had recently been in close proximity with any COVID-19 positive individual and/or received any Health Risk Warning (HRW) notification from the Ministry of Health (MOH). The viewing will be immediately rejected if the potential Member answers yes to any of the questions.
- Viewing duration is limited to approximately 20 minutes.
- Ensuring potential Members do not come into direct contact with current Members or their belongings.
- Current Members living in the apartment will be informed of the viewing in advance.
Is Hmlet still providing cleaning services?
To lower the risk of spread and keep communal spaces spick and span, weekly apartment cleaning still takes place as per normal and cleaning of the common areas have increased all throughout Covid-19. Additionally, hand sanitisers have been placed in lift cabins of en bloc properties.
Depending on each Member’s agreement terms, room cleaning can be requested through the Hmlet App and will be arranged at a small fee.
All cleaning and maintenance tickets received through the App will be handled promptly except if a Member within the apartment tests positive or is given a HRW/Quarantine Order (QO)/Isolation Order (IO) order. In such cases, services for the apartment will be placed on hold and will only resume after the stipulated isolation order or once a negative test is obtained. Professional disinfection services may be engaged at full cost to the Member who tested positive.
What precautions are Hmlet cleaners taking before entering homes?
Cleaning is managed by professional cleaning vendors who follow strict government health & safety regulations, and meet high disinfection and cleaning standards.
Our cleaners take precautionary steps that include having their temperature taken before each shift, sanitising their hands frequently, wearing masks and disposable gloves when cleaning, using high standards of disinfection chemicals, amongst others.
Given the global pandemic situation and uncertainty, is there an early termination fee if I decide to return to my home country or break my contract?
Even with travel restrictions easing in some countries, we understand that there are unique circumstances and we stand ready to help you through this.
Please take a look into the details of your contract (Members Agreement), our contractual Terms & Conditions, or check the FAQs section in the Hmlet App for further clarity.
Should you require further clarity, please reach out to our Member Experience team via the Hmlet App or drop an email to memberexperience@hmlet.com. Rest assured that we will try our best to promptly answer all requests and take them on a case-by-case basis. Please allow us two working days to respond to your inquiry.
Can I receive visitors or invite my friends over to my apartment?
Social gatherings in households are subject to each country’s health & safety regulations.
Before planning any visit, please inform your flatmates and ensure that the total number of unique visitors does not exceed the limit.
In Singapore, from 26 April 2022, there will no longer be a limit to the number of people you can have visiting your home at any one time. Do refer to Singapore’s MOH website for the latest safe distancing regulations.
Will Hmlet be conducting any community events soon?
We love seeing you, having our welcome drink sessions and enhancing our community. Plans are in place to conduct face to face events in small groups as the restrictions continue to ease.
In the meantime, if you have any event ideas, we would love to hear them! Please reach out to our Member Experience team via the Hmlet App or drop an email to memberexperience@hmlet.com.
Is Hmlet closing off all communal or shared areas? Can I gather with other Members or families?
Selected communal and shared areas remain open during this time, in line with the government’s current safe-distancing measures. If you would like to use these areas, please contact us to reserve a spot as they are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Please comply with your country’s latest health and safety regulations with regards to social gatherings and masking requirements. E.g. in Singapore, although encouraged, safe distancing is no longer mandatory in mask-on settings. However, a 1-metre safe distance will still be required for mask-off settings between groups.
Our Security team will be continuously monitoring these areas through CCTV to ensure that Members follow their country’s regulations for their own health and safety.
How do Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and Isolation Order (IO) differ?
SHN: This is a notice issued to travellers entering Singapore. Once you receive a SHN, you will have to stay at home or at an alternative accommodation for a stipulated period of time. This means, you are not allowed to visit the gym, swimming pool or playground even if it is within your estate or building. During this time, you are only allowed to leave your home or alternative accommodation for scheduled COVID-19 appointments.
IO: A legal order under the Home Recovery Programme (HRP), this is issued to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, been in close contact with someone who is or suspected to be positive. Based on an individual’s medical history, health and living arrangements, the IO can be served at a home, hospital or a dedicated government facility.
E.g. an individual above 60 with multiple pre-existing medical conditions may be sent to a dedicated government facility or hospital to serve his/her IO under medical supervision. If an individual is young and does not have any pre-existing medical conditions, and is able to isolate in a private bedroom (preferably with an attached bathroom), they are allowed to serve their IO in their own home. During this time, he/she will have to comply with the MOH regulations they will receive through email or SMS.
If he/she receives an IO, does not have any pre-existing medical conditions and lives in a Hmlet home with access to a private bedroom with an attached bathroom, he/she will be allowed to serve his/her IO there. During this time he/she will have to comply with the MOH regulations received through email and SMS.
When serving SHN or IO at home, visitors are not allowed and you must also avoid interaction with everyone in your household, isolate yourself in a room and use a dedicated toilet (if possible). If interaction is absolutely necessary, you have to maintain a safe distance of at least two metres.
For those living alone, the only two exceptions for this would be for receiving food delivery or other essential supplies. For those living in co-living spaces, please give a hand to your flatmates by helping them purchase items they might need or getting their food orders to their door handle.
For further resources on travel guidelines, please visit ICA and keep an eye for the continuous updates before you make your travel plans. Please contact us at memberexperience@hmlet.com if you have any questions.
In Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, there are severe penalties (fine and/or jail time) for defaulting on any of the above.
More information on COVID-19 can be found in the links below:
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Japan
As a current Hmlet Member in Singapore, are there any measures I should take note of when returning from an overseas trip?
From 31 March 2022, 23:59H, new border measures and the Vaccinated Travel Framework will come into effect.
All fully vaccinated travellers and non-fully vaccinated children (aged 12 and below) will be allowed into Singapore. They will no longer be issued with a SHN or have to undergo any Antigen Rapid Test (ART) or Polymerase Chain Reaction test upon arrival in Singapore.
Non-fully vaccinated Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) and Short-Term Visitors (STVs) aged 13 and above are generally not allowed to enter Singapore. However, there are a few exceptions that include vaccine ineligibility, compassionate reasons, etc.
In addition, Singapore is adopting a new Vaccinated Travel Framework where countries and regions are either classified in the General Travel or Restricted Category. At the moment, all countries and regions are classified under the General Travel Category. Re-classification might take place in the future should there be a new variant that poses a significant health risk to the public.
With these new changes, chances are low that you will need to worry about SHN, ART or PCR tests upon arrival if you are fully-vaccinated. However, there might be a few situations where they might still be mandated by the government.
Situation 1: Non-fully vaccinated, obtained entry approval and arriving in Singapore from a country or region that is classified under the General Travel Category.
You are required to perform a 7-day SHN at your place of residence or alternative accommodation (if isolation is not possible) at your own cost. A SHN exit PCR test is required on your 7th day.
Please note that depending on your Hmlet accommodation type, you may be required to find temporary accommodation to serve SHN before checking-in.
- Shared apartment, Hmlet Homes: Please arrange for an alternative housing option to perform your government-mandated isolation before moving into your Hmlet home.
- Private apartment, Hmlet Nest: You can move into your Hmlet home immediately and await your PCR test result. A virtual move-in will be done by our Member Experience team to minimise contact.
Situation 2: Fully-vaccinated, arriving in Singapore from a country or region that is classified under the Restricted Category.
You are required to take a PCR test upon arrival, serve a 7-day SHN at a dedicated government facility, and take another PCR test on the 7th day.
We request all Members who have returned from abroad and issued with a SHN to inform our Member Experience team as soon as possible. In addition, please let us know where you will be serving your SHN.
To avoid confusion, please ensure that you’ve thoroughly read through all travel requirements in advance and plan your trip accordingly. When in doubt, do refer to the ‘Stay Safe, COVID-19 Guide’ that is regularly updated on the Hmlet App.
For more information on the latest travel requirements, please visit:
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Japan
I am a new Hmlet Member and will be coming into Singapore soon, is there anything I should take note of?
Measures to take note of will differ depending on your vaccination status and the country you are arriving from. Please refer to the FAQ above for more information or visit the ICA here.
Additionally, if you are arriving from a country or region that has been classified under the Restricted Category, we request that you reach out to our Member Experience team with the results of your 7th day PCR test before checking-in to your Hmlet accommodation. We seek your understanding as this is to ensure the health and safety of our current Members and staff.
When in doubt, get in touch with our Member Experience team via the Hmlet App or email (memberexperience@hmlet.com) and we will try our best to guide you through the protocol that would best protect the interests of Hmlet Members.
What happens if I live in a shared apartment and test positive for COVID-19 in Singapore?
We’re so sorry to hear that but try not to panic, we’re here to help. First thing’s first, please inform our Member Experience team. They will guide you on what to expect next and inform the other Members staying in the same apartment of your test result.
Upon a positive COVID-19 test result, please isolate yourself immediately in accordance with the HRP (Home Recovery Programme). If you have visited a doctor, you will receive an SMS with an IO. When serving self isolation, do adhere closely to guidelines set in place by MOH and keep us posted with any updates you may have.
To protect the health and safety of other Members, we regret that you are only allowed to serve your self isolation in your current Hmlet home if you live in a private apartment or shared apartment with a private bathroom. This means that if you live in a shared apartment with a common bathroom, you are required to find temporary accommodation. For further information, please refer to the table above.
If you are facing trouble finding temporary accommodation, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Member Experience team via the Hmlet App or email (memberexperience@hmlet.com) for assistance.
To avoid confusion, here are some guidelines for next steps and considerations:
If you are staying in a 2-bedroom shared apartment:
- In line with MOH guidelines, you are allowed to stay in the same apartment/room if you have a private bathroom.
- Please obtain a written consent from your flatmate to serve your isolation in the apartment.
- During this time, practise proper isolation and get help from your flatmate to retrieve food delivery, purchasing groceries, etc.
- If your flatmate isn’t comfortable for you to serve your isolation in the shared apartment, you will have to make arrangements for temporary accommodation to serve your self isolation.
- Hmlet will arrange for disinfection and cleaning of common spaces as soon as possible. Do note that this will be charged to the Member who tested positive.
- According to the latest government guidelines, you have to self-isolate for 72 hours. If you test negative after 72 hours, you may exit self-isolation and resume normal activities.
- If you test positive after 72 hours, you’ll have to continue self-isolation and perform daily ART tests until you obtain a negative test result, or until 12pm on day 7.
- Based on the latest government guidelines, if you test positive after 12pm on day 7, you are allowed to exit self-isolation. However, to ensure the wellbeing of other Hmlet Members in the same apartment, you are required to continue self-isolation until a negative test result is obtained. Should you still test positive after 12pm on day 7 and want to exit self-isolation, you are advised to find alternative accommodation options as you would only be allowed to freely access your Hmlet home with a negative test result.
If you are staying in a 3-bedroom or larger shared apartment:
- In line with MOH guidelines, you are only allowed to stay in the same apartment/room if you have a private bathroom. If you do not have a private bathroom, you are required to find temporary accommodation to serve your self isolation.
- Please obtain a written consent from your flatmate to serve your isolation in the apartment.
- During this time, practise proper isolation and get help from your flatmate to retrieve food delivery, purchasing groceries, etc.
- If you stay in a room with a private bathroom but your flatmate isn’t comfortable for you to serve your isolation in the shared apartment, you will have to make arrangements for temporary accommodation to serve your self isolation.
- Hmlet will arrange for disinfection and cleaning of common spaces as soon as possible. Do note that this will be charged to the Member who tested positive.
- According to the latest government guidelines, you have to self-isolate for 72 hours. If you test negative after 72 hours, you may exit self-isolation and resume normal activities.
- If you test positive after 72 hours, you’ll have to continue self-isolation and perform daily ART tests until you obtain a negative test result, or until 12pm on day 7.
- Based on the latest government guidelines, if you test positive after 12pm on day 7, you are allowed to exit self-isolation. However, to ensure the wellbeing of other Hmlet Members in the same apartment, you are required to continue self-isolation until a negative test result is obtained. Should you still test positive after 12pm on day 7 and want to exit self-isolation, you are advised to find alternative accommodation options as you would only be allowed to freely access your Hmlet home with a negative test result.
Weekly cleaning and maintenance services during the isolation period:
- All cleaning and maintenance services will be paused to curb the spread.
- Please let our Member Experience team know when your last isolation day is so that they can arrange for services to resume as soon as possible.
- Viewings will also be paused during this time.
Help! I still can’t find the answers to my questions and don’t have the Hmlet App.
Not to worry! Head on over to our main FAQ page for more or you can reach out to our Member Experience team at the email addresses below:
- Singapore: memberexperience@hmlet.com
- Hong Kong: memberexperience@hmlet.hk
- Japan: memberexperience.jp@hmlet.com
If you are a Member and face login issues, do reach out to us as well and we can help you gain access to it right away.
Hmlet Cantonment, Singapore
Lush greenery at Hmlet Cantonment, Singapore
Hmlet HQ
111C, Telok Ayer Street,
Singapore 068580
Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. © 2022 Hmlet. All Rights Reserved.
Be unordinary.
Hmlet HQ
111C, Telok Ayer Street,
Singapore 068580