TENANT TIPS
	How to choose your ideal house with reasonable rental price? What is the factor inflect the rental price? What things need to prepare and do when has an viewing appointment with landlord? How to verify the ownership of landlord? What is the letter of intent? What is the tenancy agreement? Why need a help of agent to find your ideal room or unit? How much you need to pay the commission if you engage the agent for help? How to choose your ideal house with reasonable rental price? Refine your budget and area for your ideal room / unit. Possibility view all the room / unit available in the area, and compare the price and the conditions. List out your shortlist and choose the best one and bargains the price with the landlord. If you can get the best price, then move on to your second list and so on.   Standard Rental Rates at Outside Central Area (HDB) (example Jurong, Clementi, Bt. Batok, Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun, Punggol, Sengkang, Bedok, Pasir Ris, Simei, Tampines and etc)    (i) The average estimation rental rates (HDB) of rooms are:- Room Type Average Rental Price Single S$ 250 - S$ 350 Twin S$ 350 - S$ 400 Master S$ 400 - S$ 550 Air-Con S$ 50 ** Please note that the rental will be increasing from S$30 - S$200 when the premises near to Central Area, like Toa Payoh, Orchard, China Town, Tanjong Pagar, Bugis and etc.    (ii) The average estimation rental rates (HDB) of whole units are:- Property Type Average Rental Price HDB 2-room (1+1) S$ 600 - S$ 800 HDB 3-room (2+1) S$ 800 - S$ 1,000 HDB 4-room (3+1) S$ 1,000 - S$ 1,200 HDB 5-room (4/3+1) S$ 1,000 - S$ 1,300 HDB Executive Flat (EA or EM) (4/3+1) S$ 1,100 - S$ 1,400       **HDB 5-room (4/3+1) : 4 bedroom or 3 bedroom plus 1 hall ** Please note that the rental will be increasing from S$100 - S$500 when the premises near to Central Area, like Toa Payoh, Orchard, China Town, Tanjong Pagar, Bugis and etc. Standard Rental Rates at Outside Central Area (Condo) (example Jurong, Clementi, Bt. Batok, Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun, Punggol, Sengkang, Bedok, Pasir Ris, Simei, Tampines and etc)    (i) The average estimation rental rates (Condo) of rooms are:- Room Type Average Rental Price Single S$ 350 - S$ 450 Twin S$ 450 - S$ 550 Master S$ 550 - S$ 750 Air-Con S$ 50 ** Please note that the rental will be increasing from S$50 - S$300 when the premises near to Central Area, like Toa Payoh, Orchard, China Town, Tanjong Pagar, Bugis and etc.    (ii) The average estimation rental rates (Condo) of whole units are:- Property Type Average Rental Price Condo 800 sqft - 1,050 sqft (1+1) S$ 1,000 - S$ 1,500 Condo 1,050 sqft - 1,150 sqft (2+1) S$ 1,200 - S$ 2,000 Condo 1,150 sqft - 1,500 sqft (3+1) S$ 2,000 - S$ 3,500 Condo 1,500 sqft - 2,500 sqft (4+1) S$ 3,500 - S$ 5,000       ** Condo 1,150 sqft - 1,500 sqft (3+1) : Condo with built-in area, 1,150 sqft -           1,500 sqft for 3 bedroom plus 1 hall       ** 1 m2 = 10.764 sqft ** Please note that the rental will be increasing from S$200 - S$1,000 when the premises near to Central Area, like Toa Payoh, Orchard, China Town, Tanjong Pagar, Bugis and etc. Top What is the factor inflect the rental price? The main factors inflect the rental rates mostly depend on: • Market supply and demand forces • Location, eg. near town, MRT, market, school and etc • Size and type of housing unit selected • Choice of furnishing -- unfurnish, partial or fully • Existing condition, renovated, air-con and etc • The level / storey of housing selected • Range of recreational facilities available, eg. condo facilites, sport complex, park and etc Top What things need to prepare and do when has an viewing appointment with landlord? Take a look at the exterior of the flat and the surrounding area to see whether it is to your liking before you make an appointment with the landlord. Have a pen and paper ready with you to take down the address and any relevant information. Dress appropriately and show a positive attitude when meet with landlord. Bring along the documents as below: Photocopied passport / NRIC / employment pass / work permit / student pass Letters of reference from former landlords if any Credit history report Cheque for One month's rental for the good faith deposit Letter of intent (will be prepared by your agent) Most landlords will provide these assuming your tenancy was a good one. If you plan on living with someone bring them along so the landlord can meet both of you. Top How to verify the ownership of landlord? You must check the ownership of landlord before make any payment to him/her. You can ask for the property tax or deed of property and NRIC to verify the actual ownership of the property. Top What is the letter of intent? It is a letter proposing your intention to lease and your requirements to the landlord. Some points to take note of when writing the letter of intent: Diplomatic or Repatriate Clause - The Diplomatic Clause is to make you more secure. If it happens that you get unemployed or transferred overseas, you can terminate the lease after a period of 12 months, provided that you give a 2 months' advance notice. Therefore, the security deposit that you paid will be refunded to you. However, most landlords will only include the diplomatic clause or repatriate clause if the lease is a year or more. Goodfaith Deposit (Booking Deposit) - Goodfaith deposit is also called the booking deposit, which is usually one month's rent. This deposit will serve as insurance to the tenants as after the landlord has signed the Letter of Intent and accepted this deposit, he cannot rent the property to any other parties. Term of Lease - In Singapore, the customary lease period is a year or more, with or without an option to renew the lease. Usually, the lease renewal is for an extension of another 1 to 2 years. Normally, you would have to give 2 or 3 months' advance notice of your intention to renew. Security Deposit - In Singapore, the standard practice is usually one month's rent for every year of lease. The amount of this deposit is stated in the Letter of Intent and only when the Tenancy Agreement is signed, it is payable. When the lease term ends, the deposit will be refunded without interest. However, the landlord has the right to deduct all costs and expenses incurred from the deposit, for breaching any of the covenants stated in the Tenancy Agreement. Ensure that all your requirements and requests are stated in the Letter of Intent clearly. After the landlord had signed the Letter of Intent, he is bound by the Letter to provide your requests. Top What is the tenancy agreement? It is a agreement to lease the property between landlords and tenants. Some points to take note of when writing the tenancy agreement: Rental Amount - Check the rental amount to make sure that everything is in the correct amount. Term of Lease - The standard lease period is 1 year or more, with or without an option to renew the lease. Diplomatic or Escape Clause and Reimbursement Clause - The Diplomatic Clause is to make you more secure. If it happens that you get unemployed or transferred overseas, you can terminate the lease after a period of 12 months, provided that you give a 2 months' advance notice. Therefore, the security deposit that you paid will be refunded to you. However, most landlords will only include the diplomatic clause or repatriate clause if the lease is a year or more. In a standard Singapore Tenancy Agreement, there is usually the reimbursement clause together with the diplomatic clause. This clause states that if you exercise the diplomatic clause, you will have to reimburse part of the commission the landlord had paid to his agent. Public Utilities, Telephone and Cable Television - Tenants should take responsibility on monthly bills and services of the following: • City gas - piped gas in selected areas. • SP Services - the water and electricity supply. • Starhub Cable Vision (SCV) - cable television and cable broadband Internet. • Singapore Telecom- residential telephone line. Repairs and Maintenance - Tenants who carry out minor repairs for maintaining the leased premise are to bear the cost on their own. However, the landlord will pay major repairs and maintenance expenses exceeding $100 or $150. This is provided that the damage or malfunction of appliances is not caused by the tenant's negligence. Stamp Duty - In Singapore, the Tenancy Agreement will need to be stamped by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore as only then it can be considered a valid contract as evidence in court for any disputes that may arise in the future. This protects the interests of both the landlord and the tenant. Ensure that all your requirements and requests are stated in the Tenancy Agreement clearly. After the landlord had signed the Tenancy Agreement, he is bound by the Agrement to provide your requests. Top Why need a help of agent to find your ideal room or unit? Professional housing agent able to find the ideal room or unit in the targeted area with the lowest rental price at shorten period. As a professional, he/she should be willing to help you in the all matters as below: Vital to have a middle man Screen throught all the listing available in advertisement (Local Press, Online Ad) and agencies' listing Stress free negotiation with landlord Avoid direct emotional and sensitive comments Easier for an agent to deal with another landlord's agent Entertain landlord's / agent's Call 24 hrs Check on ownership of landlord Update you the changing of HDB regulations Update you the rental procedures and matters. Help in preparing all the paperwork, like stamp the tenancy agreement which the tenants need to sign. Company provide full support So, you can live in peace and carry-on with daily activities. Top How much you need to pay the commission if you engage the agent for help? The recommended commission/fee for real estate transactions have been defined by Institute of Estate Agents (IEA), you can directly read it online at www.iea.org.sg Top

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