Book Title: Contract Law in Changing Times

Publisher: Routledge

Abstract: This Chapter examines the doctrine of frustration in Singaporean law and its application to contracts affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. After discussing the common law approach to pandemic situations in general, the Chapter critiques a recent Singaporean case which held that a ‘lease’ of premises was frustrated by circumstances resulting from the pandemic in Singapore. The Chapter then moves from the common law to statute. It considers the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, which was introduced by the Singaporean government in April 2020 in response to the pandemic. The Act operates in tandem with the common law doctrine of frustration but provides a more targeted and nuanced way of dealing with changes in circumstances that affect contracts.