Running a farmstay by the sea isn’t exactly an opportunity that comes along often in Singapore, but aspiring operators now have the rare chance to do just that. Singapore’s only farmstay is up for lease takeover, allowing you to live out your dream of running and living in your own seaside retreat.
Announced on 4th October 2026, House of Melissa, a 12,000sqft farmstay located within the Civil Service Club @ Changi, is looking for a new operator. From a private seafront deck to its own apiary, the sprawling compound offers far more than your typical seaview property.
Changi farmstay with 2 years left on its lease
Before becoming House of Melissa, the bungalow was known as Chalet F at the Civil Service Club (CSC) along Netheravon Road. It officially opened as a boutique farmstay in November 2024, run by Clarence Chua and Candice Li, the couple behind The Sundowner Nature Experience Centre at Bukit Timah.
Nearly 2 years later, the couple is looking to hand over the reins to someone new, citing rising rent and decreased demand as some of the challenges. However, don’t expect a typical housing lease, as the property is leased from the CSC with only about 2 years left.
The farmstay’s new owner could take over the existing business and its inventory as early as 1st December 2026, and even make it their home. In their Instagram reel, the couple describes House of Melissa as a farmstay you can “own and live in too.”
Image credit: House of Melissa Boutique Farmstay via Google Maps
Naturally, you might be wondering how much it’ll cost to take over such a massive compound. While the couple has yet to reveal an asking price, interested parties can arrange viewings from now until the end of November 2026.
Even without a public asking price, there’s already quite a bit of interest. According to The Straits Times, the couple’s Instagram reel has racked up at least 120,000 views, with around 15 enquiries coming in within just 2 days.
12,000sqft seafront farmstay with 3 bedrooms, beehives & an edible garden
Image credit: Ngo Soh Hoon via Google Maps
As far as staycation spots go, House of Melissa is quite unlike your usual hotel or chalet. The couple transformed the space into a farmstay in just 2.5 months, spending less than $80,000 on renovations, with Clarence even taking on some of the carpentry and painting himself.
The restored pre-war property also has a fictional backstory to match its old-world charm. It’s named after Melissa Evelin, a British naturalist who mysteriously disappeared, with her “home” supposedly rediscovered in 2024 after 90 years.
Fittingly, the property sits along Changi’s heritage trail, an area known for its coastal chalets and bungalows dating back to the mid-1800s. Similar heritage properties line Changi Road, including colonial black-and-white houses managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).
Image credit: House of Melissa
The property has 3 bedrooms and 2 shared bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 9 guests. Pawrents will be glad to know that the farmstay is pet-friendly, so their furry companions can tag along.
Stays currently range from about $235 to $650 a night for up to 4 guests, depending on membership and length of stay, and the farmstay is booked roughly 20 nights a month.
Image credit: Sakthi Balan via Google Maps
Of course, one of the biggest draws is its beachfront location. The private seafront deck offers scenic views of the coastline, while the beach is just a short flight of stairs away. Occasional outdoor movie screenings are also available for those who fancy watching a film by the sea.
For nature lovers, the farmstay has over 10 beehives where guests can suit up for hands-on honey harvesting experiences. You might spot free-roaming chickens around the compound or explore the edible garden, where papaya, jackfruit, and even coffee plants are grown.
House of Melissa up for lease takeover
Opportunities to take over a seaside farmstay don’t come around often in land-scarce Singapore. With only about 2 years left on the lease and rising rental costs to consider, taking over House of Melissa isn’t quite the same as buying your own beachfront home.
For anyone who’s been toying with the idea of running a staycation business, this could be a chance to take over an established space without having to build one from the ground up.
For more reads:
- Renting black-and-white SLA apartments & landed homes from $1.8K
- How these homeowners spent $10K on 120 Taobao items to save $30K on their reno
- 8 unique home businesses in Singapore, from a hidden HDB bar to wood-fired pizzas
Cover image adapted from: House of Melissa, Sakthi Balan via Google Maps
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