# Hotels in Toa Payoh

Any premises renting four or more rooms to guests for stays under seven days needs a licence from the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB) – check the hotel listing on GoBusiness. Private homes cannot legally be rented for under three consecutive months, so short-stay apartment listings are a risk. Hotel room and dining prices are usually quoted "++".

## Key facts
- Listings: 7
- Matched to a government licence/register: 1
- Median years in business: 14

## Licences
- **Certificate of Registration and Hotel-keeper's Licence** (Hotels Licensing Board (HLB), required): Required for any premises offering four or more rooms to guests staying less than seven days, including hostels. Renewed annually. Check: https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/licences

## How to choose
- Confirm the hotel is licensed: search the HLB 'Hotel Listing' under Licensed Entities on the GoBusiness Licensing portal.
- Compare the final price: hotels that levy a service charge may quote rates before 10% service charge and 9% GST.
- For staycations, check what is included – breakfast, late check-out, pool access and parking are often separate.
- Be wary of short stays in condos or HDB flats: the Planning Act bars private homes from being rented for less than three consecutive months, and HDB flats for less than six months.
- Serviced apartments need URA approval and must rent for at least seven days.

## Red flags
- A 'hotel' or 'hostel' not on the HLB listing.
- Nightly rentals of private condo units or HDB flats.
- Quoted rates that only show the full taxes and charges at payment.

## Listings (top 7)
- [31 Student Homestay](https://lookup.sg/biz/31-student-homestay), Toa Payoh · 31 Jalan Bunga Rampai · 6 min walk from Bartley MRT
- [Ibis Styles Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/ibis-styles-singapore), Toa Payoh · 401 MacPherson Rd, Corner Of Macpherson And · 8 min walk from Mattar MRT · Licensed hotel
- [Marina Bay Sands](https://lookup.sg/biz/marina-bay-sands-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 1 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2005
- [Happy Hostel](https://lookup.sg/biz/happy-hostel), Toa Payoh · 133 Upper Paya Lebar Rd · 4 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2012
- [Macpherson Hotel](https://lookup.sg/biz/macpherson-hotel-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · Macpherson Mall, 401 MacPherson Rd · 8 min walk from Mattar MRT
- [Europa Country Club Resort](https://lookup.sg/biz/europa-country-club-resort), Toa Payoh · 418 Thomson Rd · 9 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Hidden Leaf Village Konahagakure](https://lookup.sg/biz/hidden-leaf-village-konahagakure), Toa Payoh · kalundborgvej 23 · 14 min walk from Braddell MRT

## FAQs
### How do I check if a hotel is licensed in Singapore?
Go to the GoBusiness Licensing portal, choose 'Licensed Entities', expand 'Hotels Licensing Board' and open 'Hotel Listing'. You can search or export the list. HLB licenses hotels under the Hotels Act 1954, issuing a Certificate of Registration for the premises and a Hotel-keeper's Licence.

### Is Airbnb legal in Singapore?
Short-term rentals of private homes for less than three consecutive months to the same person are prohibited under the Planning Act, and URA enforces against them. HDB flats have a six-month minimum. Licensed hotels and hostels can list on such platforms with their HLB licence number.

### Do hotels in Singapore charge GST and service charge?
Yes, most do: 10% service charge plus 9% GST on top, about 19.9% over the base rate. IRAS allows hotels that levy a service charge to display prices before GST, provided they state prominently that prices are subject to GST and service charge.

## Sources
- GoBusiness – Hotels Licensing Board: Certificate of Registration and Hotel-keeper's Licence: https://gobusiness.gov.sg/browse-all-licences/Hotels-Licensing-Board-(HLB)/Certificate-of-Registration-and-Hotel-keeper's-Licence
- STB – Licensing overview: https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/assistance-and-licensing/licensing-overview.html
- HLB – List of registered hotels (navigation guide): https://www.hlb.gov.sg/files/resources/guides/list-of-registered-hotels.pdf
- IRAS – Displaying and quoting prices (GST): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/invoicing-price-display-and-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.