Sub-tenant sues Hao Mart over early termination of Taste Orchard lease

The beauty salon Belovie is the only sub-tenant to have filed a lawsuit against former master tenant Hao Mart. Advertisement Singapore Sub-tenant sues Hao Mart over early termination of Taste Orchard lease The beauty salon Belovie is the only sub-tenant to have filed a lawsuit against former master tenant Hao Mart. Taste Orchard at 160 Orchard Road. (Photo: CNA/Koh Wan Ting) New: You can now listen to articles. This audio is generated by an AI tool. Koh Wan Ting Koh Wan Ting 04 Mar 2026 08:08PM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SINGAPORE: A beauty salon that previously operated at Taste Orchard has filed a lawsuit against master tenant Hao Mart, claiming damages from the premature closure of its outlet.Belovie, which ran a beauty salon on the third floor of Taste Orchard at 160 Orchard Road, was one of the many sub-tenants given three months to vacate the premises in September last year.It is seeking unspecified damages for alleged contractual breaches arising from the early termination.According to its statement of claim seen by CNA, Belovie claims losses including renovation expenses and purchases of furniture or equipment amounting to around S$445,607.70.Belovie also claims losses arising from cancelled memberships that relied on its continued operations at Taste Orchard, as well as costs incurred from relocating. It has since moved to Citygate Mall at Beach Road.In its defence, Hao Mart argues that the sublease was always contingent on the continued existence of the master lease.The supermarket operator has also filed a counterclaim to recover unpaid rent that it said Belovie withheld after being told to vacate the premises. Related: Taste Orchard tenants shocked by abrupt notice to vacate after OG terminates Hao Mart's lease Taste Orchard tenants reject settlement with Hao Mart, say it does not address business losses THREE-YEAR SUB-TENANCY CUT SHORTIn its claim, Belovie said it entered into a three-year sublease with Hao Mart starting around June 2024.Hao Mart was then the master tenant of the building, which it leased from landlord OG.Belovie renovated and fitted out its unit for business, spending about S$445,607.70. It also paid a security deposit of S$89,411.85 to Hao Mart under the tenancy agreement.On Sep 12, 2025, Belovie was among several sub-tenants issued with a written notice stating that the master lease had been discontinued and that occupants had to vacate and return their units by Dec 31, 2025.Sub-tenants were also asked to reinstate their units to pre-tenancy condition. CNA previously reported that tenants expressed consternation at the abrupt development. Several rejected a settlement with Hao Mart, saying it did not address business losses. Belovie, represented by lawyers Ang Boon Yaw and Wilson Yeo of Yeo Marini Law, is the first and only sub-tenant so far to initiate a lawsuit against Hao Mart.The Taste Orchard building has since been vacated.Several related lawsuits have also been filed in connection with this matter. In August last year, Hao Mart sued PropNex Realty and agent Michael Tan over alleged misrepresentation in dealings concerning the Taste Orchard lease.In October last year, OG filed a lawsuit against Hao Mart, claiming rental arrears and unauthorised subletting.Hao Mart, its founder Tan Kim Yong and his wife then sued OG and an individual in January this year, alleging a conspiracy to cause loss by damaging or destroying their business. Each lawsuit involves millions of dollars in alleged damages. Related: Hao Mart, founder sue OG for S$57.5 million, allege conspiracy to cause loss by damaging or destroying the business Hao Mart sues PropNex Realty, agent for alleged misrepresentation over Taste Orchard lease, cites S$3.5 million in losses BELOVIE'S CLAIMBelovie said Hao Mart did not allege any breach or wrongdoing by the sub-tenant. Following the September notice, Belovie contended that it was no longer obliged to pay rent and therefore stopped payments from October to December 2025.If Hao Mart seeks to claim rent for that period, the sum should be set off against Belovie's claims for damages, restitution and refund of deposits arising from the contractual breach, the statement of claim said.Belovie further argued that the ongoing dispute between OG and Hao Mart over the master lease did not justify terminating its sublease early.By cutting short Belovie’s tenancy without alleging any breach, Hao Mart breached the tenancy agreement, the plaintiff said.Hao Mart was not entitled to demand reinstatement or deduct related costs where the tenancy was ended prematurely without fault on Belovie's part, it added. Alternatively, Belovie will rely on the legal principle of “unjust enrichment”, arguing that Hao Mart unfairly benefited from