Koh Poh Koon on hawker stall rents

High bids in hawker centre stall tenders are “not the norm”, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon told Parliament on Monday (Sep 9). He was replying to an MP’s questions about a recent record-breaking bid of over S$10,000 a month for a stall at a Marine Parade hawker centre and whether this was indicative of a trend that might impact food affordability. Dr Koh said the median successful tender price for cooked food stalls in hawker centres was about S$1,800 in 2023. About one in five stalls was awarded at tender prices at or below S$500. In 2022, based on a National Environment Agency survey, rent formed, on average, less than 10 per cent of operating costs for stallholders. Dr Koh added that there are measures to moderate hawker stall rents, such as not setting a reserve rent, not allowing sub-letting, and adjusting tendered rents after the initial three-year term towards an assessed market rent determined through independent professional valuation. Dr Koh said “a few stalls at popular locations” have attracted high bids due to factors such as location and high footfall.