kclarins wrote:How would you define "informal"? My situation involves a signed contract, despite not having a stamp.
I have paid my rent and bills on time to the landlord. However, I see that there are always late charges on the bills, and it seems the landlord is not paying on time despite my and my flatmates being on time. Looks like landlord will pass on the late charges to us, and we will not stand for that.
With the bills not being paid on time, landlord looks like he has no money, and I have no assurance that I will get my deposit back unless I have it spent as my last month's rent.
Thanks for the feedback so far. I honestly do not want to twist anyone's arm, but I want to protect myself.
define informal? say, a spit handshake? or, trust? you do not know of friends/couples/colleagues who share an apartment with only 1 TA, 1 landlord and 1 tenant in existence...?
not stamping a document doesn't mean everything goes your way. eg, if the document doesn't exist, that means your proof of having paid a deposit goes out the window too. that doesn't sound right, does it? nor does it mean the mediator/registrar/jc/judge will accept that it's the landlord's fault that you lost your job and are no longer entitled to rent a place/reside in singapore... (and therefore you're having to terminate your contract earlier than expected because it's all the LL's fault. him him him.)
that the bills are paid late is nothing to do with you unless you're being made an involved party by the creditors - you are not the one legally responsible for the bill or its late charges. but should the landlord stick the late charges on you/other tenants without cause/reason certainly isn't right - the way you word it seemed it has not happened yet and the bill is not withheld by your landlord. let's cross that bridge when you get there. suffice to say, as long as the utilities are still provided, you need not kick a fuss.
it's really as simple as PNG said - if you have the right to terminate your TA early without penalty, you can do so.
1. you entered the contract with eyes wide opened. 2. your LL did not cause you to lose your job.
not stamping the document, blaming the LL for not having money for bills (and thus, maybe, no money to return your deposit, a deposit that he should be entitled to because you are breaking contract), and finding everything criminal the LL may conceivably have done to use as fodder to get your deposit back, is, in my opinion, twisting his arm.