SINGAPORE: Garden Hub, which manages an eight-hectare site of gardening-related businesses at Jalan Penjara, plans to take the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to court over tenancy issues.
It is believed to be the first such case involving property managed by the SLA.
Garden Hub was meant to be a one-stop station for all things related to gardening and landscaping.
But the fate of 15 sub-tenants is now in limbo.
This comes after the master tenant was served a termination notice earlier this month by SLA, to clear out by 22 September.
Channel
NewsAsia obtained the letter, which said the premises were only meant
for plant nurseries and ornamental plant production.
It added the tenant had sublet the area for unauthorised uses, without prior approval.
Garden Hub is now planning to take legal action on the matter.
It is still business as usual for many of the subtenants.
At
the moment, it is unclear if it is illegal for them to continue
occupying these premises because of SLA's termination notice.
But on the other hand, subtenants also said they remain contractually bound to Garden Hub.
One
subtenant said: "It's been very, very difficult because we don't know
where we are and whether we are here legally or illegally, so that's
been the most difficult part, and not knowing what to do and who to ask
for help.
"It's a very, very difficult situation because we have all invested a lot of money here.
"Before we came here, this place has been vacant for a very long time and very, very badly maintained."
Subtenants
said business has been hit, some as much as half, since the dispute
unfolded as customers are unaware whether they are open or not.
Cookyn
Inc co-owner Dexter Tai said: "All the long-term plans that we have for
this place is on hold for this point in time because we don't really
know what's the final outcome.
"We have spent a lot of money, our life savings are all in here.
"The
four directors, we're all friends. Hopefully our friendship stays. But
more important is our responsibility to our sponsors and also our
clients."
For now, SLA said it is reviewing the court papers filed.
-CNA/wk
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has terminated the lease on two properties in Queenstown because of what it said were 'persistent breaches' of the tenancy agreements.
These include sub-letting parts of the properties without prior approval from the SLA, sub-letting parts for unauthorised uses and erecting unauthorised structures.
In turn, Nursery Mart and Garden Hub, which had leased the land, have started legal action against the Government on this matter.
This is the first time legal action has been taken against the Government as far as SLA-managed properties are concerned.
-- ST
it is a legal battle between the landlord and main tenant....sub tenants could go after the main tenant...