It is wise to look into the three main types of residential housing that are open to you. These three main types are: apartments & condominiums, landed houses, and HDB flats.
Private houses are normally designated to the seperate "districts". Districts 9, 10, 11 and 21 are prime residential areas that are very popular with expatriates and upper middle class Singaporeans.
Other popular locations are districts 15 and 16 which are near the coastline and therefore offer excellent sea views (example, East Coast Park) or river/bay views (example, Tanjong Rhu).
Public housing developments are usually classified into "towns". For example: Yishun, Choa Chu Kang , Punggol, Bedok. are all towns in the central region and they tend to be more popular. These include Ang Mo Kio , Bishan and Toa Payoh . Other popular areas include Marine Parade (located near the East Coast). With recent upgrades to their amenities, older estates are also seeing increased demand from flat owners as well as tenants (this may interest you as a property owner as you could be renting out your property in the future).
Know Your Requirements
To decide on a suitable housing, you will need to consider the following:
Budget - Remember that not all housing is fully furnished, and costs quoted do not take into account electricity, telephone and gas charges. Find out if the property is being leased / sold furnished or not.
Lease duration - Most lease terms are for one year or more; though shorter leases are negotiable on an individual basis.
Location - Does the location you have in mind meet your needs for transport convenience, proximity to your office/school, leisure facilities, shopping/banking amenities?
Appoint an Agent
If your budget allows, appoint an agent to service you. Look for one who is familiar with the location and type of housing that you are looking. Make sure the agent is from a Listed Housing Agency . Be specific when you discuss your requirements with your agent. This will allow him/her to advise and service you in a professional manner.
Viewing Homes
Your agent will ensure you to look at the houses available which match your criteria. Bring along a small book to the griffonnage in bottom of the positive and negative points about the house. This will help you to make a comparison with the current among the houses which you visited. Be specific for your go of viewing.
Without counting that the property itself, pay the attention to the accesses. If you can, to have a fast walk around. Note the levels of environment, cleanliness and noise. You can always change the interior of property but there is no manner that you can change the environments!
You can accentuate all the assemblies absent or not-working for your agent or attention of the owner, but abstain from to make any comments of negative/offensive. After all, you can thereafter decide to rent the property; thus it is wise to exert tact with the owner.
In all the circumstances, do not feel pressurized in renting a place until you are comfortable with him, because you are under any engagement with your agent. Do not sign any document unless you entirely the contents and the implications comprenniez, and can answer all the requirements necessary.
Making Your Offer
When you have find a suitable property, discuss with your agent on making an offer. He / she will be able to give you his/her view and advise on the prevailing market prices with regards to the property type, location and provided furnishings.
Tenancy Agreement
Once that you decided to rent the property, you will sign usually a known legal document under the name of tenancy (rental) agreement. You ensure that the tenancy (rental) agreement is signed directly between yourself (the tenant) and Landlord / Owner.
To check the property of the property, you can invite Landlord / Owner to produce an conservancy bill (for HDB/public or governmental owners of housing) or a property tax statement (for the private owners). Double confirm that the person that you treat is legitimate Landlord / Owner.
The tenancy (rental) agreement will aim at engagements between the two parts for an agreed fixed limit. This includes to require of Landlord / Owner to make sure that all the utilities are correctly installed and under the working condition, while you (the tenant) will be responsible to make sure that the property is maintained in the good order.
You ensure that the list of inventory (Things in the property which would be authorized for the use of the tenant) in the tenancy (rental) agreement is in a satisfactory way met and inspected (you can like to take photographs for the obviousness) before signing the agreement. Clarify with your owner if the use of the common equipment of household like the kitchen, TV, etc is left.
Only those over 21 years can sign the tenancy (rental) agreement. For those below 21 years, a guard or a guarantor/sponsor should sign the agreement of hiring as well as the occupant.
Keep a copy of the tenancy (rental) agreement for your own notice. Obtain the receipts for all the paid moneys, for example deposit of safety, monthly rental, etc...
Security Deposit
It is in practices currents so that the tenant pays a deposit of safety equivalent to one or two month of the rental, as well as the first month of will upfront of rental. Then, the payment is usually made on a monthly basis. The deposit of safety is refundable at the end of the completion period, if there is no damage with the property. All the damage or ruptures caused by you (the tenant) will be deduced from the deposit of safety when it is released. In certain cases, the deposit of safety cannot also be refunded if you (the tenant) not give the sufficient notification to the owner about moving outside before the expiry of the contract.
Rental Fees
For the action to avoid possible misunderstandings or to treat badly, you ensure that the fees of rental are given directly in Landlord / Owner. It is the best than you carry out the payment by cheques in the name of Landlord / Owner. You ensure that you receive a receipt of the owner showing the full quantity of paid rental housing.
Home Insurance
If you own and keep valuable personal items in your rented home, try to taking up personal housing insurance. Your agent can help you with this.
Agent's Commission
A set of commission guidelines, published by the Institute of Estate Agents (IEA), is available online at www.iea.org.sg. Remember that good agent is obliged to provide good service, making him your friend will ensure that you have someone to call should the need ever arise in future.
