There are many factors to consider before committing to a pet insurance policy, such as budget, the dog’s breed, health history, and age, and specific needs.

Not to add to the muddle, but have you ever thought of how your residential type in Singapore can affect pet insurance decisions?

From considering the risks of injury to examining the chance of facing off with uninvited wildlife, we explore how these factors may change with housing type, consequently having an impact on your pet insurance needs.

Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats

1. Breed restrictions

According to AVS under the Housing and Development (Animals) Rules 2024, HDB only permits up to two cats and only one dog of an approved small breed to be kept in each residential unit.

Signing up for pet insurance requires your dog to be licensed and legally registered under you. If you have a dog that is outside of regulations, your insurer can deny claims.

Depending on the breed, smaller-sized dogs might be less susceptible to or affected by certain medical conditions (like those related to the joint) and vet bills might be lower compared to larger breeds. This may affect your decision when it comes to how much insurance coverage to go for.

What’s more, smaller breeds generally live a longer life, and it is crucial to consider whether the policy covers your pet throughout its lifetime, or at least the majority of it.

2. Pet-friendly communal areas

Apartment dogs are often limited to public dog runs where they are allowed off-leash, and daily walks around the neighbourhood.

More exposure to public spaces means lesser control on what your dog might pick up when outdoors. Whether ingesting of foreign objects, getting attacked by other dogs, or contracting diseases unpreventable by vaccination, insurance can be helpful in such scenarios.

3. Weighing third-party liability risks

The constant coming and going of residents within the same area, block, or common corridors can increase chances of third-party liability. For example, your dog might bite a neighbour, a child, or delivery person. If your pet has the potential to cause hurt, insurance can help cover if you become legally responsible for compensation.

4. Stairs

Besides maisonettes and penthouses, apartments are single-level flats. Not having to climb flights of stairs on a daily basis can prevent overusing of joints and risks of injury.

5. Wildlife encounter

Close proximity encounters with dangerous wildlife within your high-rise HDB estate is rare.

Of course, there are exceptions. Depending on where you live, you might have a higher chance of encountering monkeys, otters, or wild boars. We have seen monkeys wreak havoc within Punggol HDB estates and they might cause harm to your pet.

If that’s your situation, you would probably want your pet to be covered for accidents that might arise from wildlife encounters.

Condominiums

1. Breed restrictions

While condominium (condo) residents generally can have up to three dogs, including one specified breed, it is subject to the management’s rules and by-laws. Hence, we typically see more smaller breeds residing in condos than larger ones.

As mentioned above, smaller dogs might be able to get away with a lower coverage plan for those on a tight budget but a longer life expectancy means you should get a plan that covers your pet for its lifetime or at least a longer period of time.

2. Dog-friendly communal areas

In recent years, we have seen news of some management committees imposing stricter rules, with some prohibiting dogs from walking within the condo’s shared premises.

Also, newer condominiums in Singapore tend to be smaller than HDB flats. All these factors might translate into more pent-up energy. We think this could mean more injuries from jumping off beds and sofas (think Intervertebral Disc Disease), slipping on tiles, and ingesting foreign objects.

It would be wise to see whether your insurance plan has adequate protection to cover treatments and rehabilitation for potential injuries that may occur at home.

3. Weighing third-party liability risks

Unlike HDB flats where gardens are open to the public, condominiums have private areas within the compound reserved for residents only. This can result in stricter rule enforcements for upkeep and maintenance.

If an incident involving your pet occurs within the compound (e.g. dog attack or damage to private property), more people are involved, and legal disputes are more likely. Stakeholders involved may include your neighbours, other residents, management committee, and security guards.

Claims in shared areas are often scrutinised more closely, which signals a need for increased liability coverage. If you become liable for compensation legally, having insurance can come in handy.

🐾 Treat stop: Third-party liability clause in the policy are usually on a case-by-case basis. For example, your insurer can deny you legal indemnity if explicit rules of the condo were flouted, such as knowingly walking your dog in pet-free zones near the pool.

4. Wildlife encounter

With private and controlled access and security guarding and surveillance, close encounters with wildlife within a condo is even rarer than in a HDB estate. In this case, you may want to allocate your budget to a plan that’s focused more on health than accidents.

Landed properties

1. Breed restrictions

Larger breeds are more common in landed properties and they are, unfortunately, genetically predisposed to medical conditions related to the joint, such as hip or elbow dysplasia and torn cruciate ligament that might require surgery.

Anything involving surgery can really break the bank. Moreover, some insurers do not cover congenital and hereditary conditions. Etiqa offers a policy extension to cover the above, subject to a 12-month waiting period provided that it is not a pre-existing medical condition. In order to qualify for this coverage, your pet has to be clinically assessed by a vet for a clean bill of health prior to purchase of the policy.

2. Proximity to roads

Landed homes often have their own private gardens for pets to engage in play. However, main gates are closer to roads, which increases chances of pet runaways and/or accidents.

When not monitored closely, pets can slip out easily. We’ve heard of both dogs and cats escaping out of the house and getting knocked down by vehicles, sometimes by their own family members parking their cars.

When you live in a landed property, the risk of your pet getting injured on the roads is much higher, signalling a need for higher accident coverage with your insurer.

3. Weighing third-party liability risks

With indoor/outdoor living, dogs have more opportunities to roam about unsupervised, and may even slip out under fences or gates. They may get in trouble with other dogs or people.

Property damage applies too. Say your pet managed to escape and dug up your neighbour’s garden or tipped over an antique vase. If you become legally held for compensation, your insurer might grant you indemnity, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

4. Stairs

In multi-storey homes, the frequent need to use stairs to access other floors can be demanding on the joints and overall wellbeing of your dog. Overly excited dogs might also rush up and down stairs and fall or injure themselves. This is where surgical and accident benefits of an insurance policy come in.

5. Wildlife encounter

Snakes, rodents, toads, and monkeys are common sightings both in and outside of landed homes in Singapore. Your curious pet might not know better; accidentally provoking a wild animal or picking up a carcass.

From wildlife-borne diseases to bite attacks, treatment for your pet might be expensive. Insurance can help foot part of the bill, if your pet or the situation qualifies.

What is recommended?

Only you understand your pet best. Getting a specific policy catered to your pet’s needs can be beneficial if you are aware of what they might be more prone to. Casting a wider safety net, on the other hand, could be wise if you require a more well-rounded protection.

While where you live can influence your pet’s risks, every pet stands to benefit from having insurance. Tiq by Etiqa Pet Insurance offers what you need for a comprehensive coverage.

What we like about Tiq by Etiqa Pet Insurance

• Enjoy complimentary cover for Congenital and Hereditary Conditions¹ for your pet
• Affordable premium to offer coverage to those on a tight budget but still want to be protected
• Protect your dogs early from as young as 8 weeks old
• Up to S$15,000 surgical coverage – one of the highest in the market²
• Non-surgical cover* for issues like vomiting, diarrhoea, and ear infections, means you can make an outpatient-only claim
• Up to S$3,500 accident cover* is one of the highest in the market
• Attractive no-claim discounts of up to 20% upon renewal
• Multi-pet discount: Enjoy 5% discount if you insure 2 pets and 10% discount if you insure 3 pets in a single transaction

Coverage Table

Important Notes

*Deductible of $200 and co-insurance applies.
^Estimated Base Annual Premium is based on an 8-week-old Mongrel with a 10% discount through the Tiq by Etiqa Pet Insurance promotion.
¹ You are required to prove that your pet is clinically examined by a Singapore Registered Veterinarian within thirty (30) days of the purchase date and submit our Pet Insurance Clinical Examination Form in order to qualify for the complimentary coverage. Refer to Tiq by Etiqa Pet Insurance policy wording for full details.
² This comparison does not include information on all similar products. Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. does not guarantee that all aspects of the products have been illustrated. The comparison provides a summary of benefits for general comparison purposes from publicly available information.
This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K). Information is accurate as at 30 July 2025.

Tiq by Etiqa recommends the Pawmazing tier, which extends coverage to more expenses with a manageable annual premium.

Visit Tiq by Etiqa to learn more.

Apply promo code “VANILLAPUP10” at check out to enjoy a 10% discount off your policy. Valid until 11 August 2025. Terms apply.

In closing

None of us knows what the future holds. Understanding how your living situation has an impact on your dog’s health and habits can guide you to make a more well-informed decision for a policy that provides the most relevant and cost-effective coverage.

This article was contributed by VanillaPup.