Room for rent, bills included, no visitors: digital platforms and the experiences of LGBTQ+ tenants and landlords in Singapore’s private rental market

Singapore’s public housing system has been praised for its high coverage and elevated rates of public homeownership. However, scholars have criticised the heteronormative housing eligibility criteria that restrict those who are not married from buying public housing until they are 35 years old. As a result, there has been the growth of an LGBTQ+ focused private rental housing market in Singapore, with landlords and estate agents who cater specifically to LGBTQ+ tenants. This is facilitated through online groups and platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Drawing on a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews with tenants and landlords, I explore how these digital platforms have connected these parties. Findings will elucidate how LGBTQ+ tenants use renting to navigate families and housing policies, and how LGBTQ+ accepting landlords commodify safe spaces and a sense of belonging. By doing so, this article offers a queer lens for a deeper understanding of the relationship between the political economy of housing and sexuality.