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Rent a flat or a house in Singapore


#1  2011-08-05 14:14:38

Christine
Administrator
Christine
From: grand baie
Registered: 2008-09-29
Posts: 23438

Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

Finding a place to live is a priority when settling in Singapore. Your experience will be of a great help for the members who want to settle in Singapore.

Therefore, we have prepared some questions for you:

Which kinds of accommodation are available in Singapore?

Is it hard to find a flat or a house for rent in Singapore?

How to find a home in Singapore: classifieds, real estate portals, real estate agencies?

How much is the rental for a house, an apartment?

What are the formalities or the required documents for renting an accommodation?

Which advice would you give?

Thanks in advance for participating!




 
 
 
 

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#2  2011-08-07 04:56:07

osama58
New member
From: Nijmegen
Registered: 2010-12-27
Posts: 5

Re: Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

i am also moving there i am asking same thing




 
 
 

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#3  2011-08-08 08:16:36

typebug
Active member
Registered: 2010-11-18
Posts: 64

Re: Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

We arrived unaware that everything is done through agents here. We thought an agent was something for lazy people so we set out on our own and called up landlords about properties for rent. No one would call us back because we didn't have an agent. They just thought we were idiots. That was our first mistake!

After we got a good agent things were really smooth and easy. All of a sudden there were a lot more options on the table and we had someone to tell us things we had no way of knowing. Our Agent negotiated the rent prices (yes, they are totally negotiable), helped us through the letter of intent (WTF!). She drew up the lease paperwork and legal stuff that is simply not part of renting an apartment in any country we've ever lived in.

All that said, prepare to pay double what you would for a comparable place in the highest priced neighborhoods in North America. You have to adjust your expectations before you begin or it's very frustrating and try not to spend too much time comparing. People just seem to spend a much higher percentage of their income on basic housing here.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#4  2011-08-08 09:38:08

Christine
Administrator
Christine
From: grand baie
Registered: 2008-09-29
Posts: 23438

Re: Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

Hi typebug,

Thank you for sharing this information! smile




 
 
 
 

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#5  2011-08-27 22:54:33

beppi
EB member +
beppi
From: World Citizen
Registered: 2010-08-08
Posts: 704

Re: Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

The above poster maybe had an unusually good agent. Normally they are not very knowledgeable or helpful, only interested in earning a quick buck, and are well-known for cheating (e.g. charging the tenant although the landlord engaged them - which is actually illegal).
In my 12 years in Singapore, through five changes of rental, I usually gave agents a chance but always found the better deals (incl. all the ones I eventually accepted) without agent. It takes more effort, but that's worth for having a better place to live in the end.

"Letter of intent", all the other paperwork and "legal stuff" are not part of renting in Singapore: They were invented by agents to make it look like their services are needed. I never had any of that stuff - things are much easier and more straightforward if you talk to the landlord directly.

Last edited by beppi (2011-08-27 22:57:31)




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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#6  2011-08-28 07:58:42

dolph4yvt
New member
dolph4yvt
From: Balikpapan
Registered: 2011-04-20
Posts: 6

Re: Rent a flat or a house in Singapore

Hello typebug, could you advice me which agent that you used, please?
Thank you.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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