Singapore Expats

Break Lease

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Jar

Break Lease

Post by Jar » Tue, 02 Aug 2005 9:20 pm

I have accepted a job offer with a new company back in Sydney. The problem is that I have signed a two year personal lease for my condo and I have only stayed there for only a year. I have spoken to the agent and despite all efforts at getting out of the lease (ie offering to paint the house, getting new tenants etc), the landlord is refusing to budge and insisting that I have to forfeit my bond (2 months rental). My option is to get someone to take over my lease without the landlord knowing. However, it is clearly stated in my contract that I am not allowed to sublet to anyone. Has anyone been in my situation and how did they get out of it? Please advise.

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geneva99
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Post by geneva99 » Wed, 03 Aug 2005 12:30 pm

Did you sign the lease on your own or was it through the company that brought you to Singapore? If so, is there a "diplomatic" clause in that lease whereby should you not have a job or a permit anymore the lease is automatically stopped provided you give some (1 or 2 month) notice, this should be clearely stated in the clause.

Mind you, I have expat friends who are going through hell with their landlord and although the law is clearly on my friends' side, the landlord doesn't care and keeps ignoring them, without forgetting to greedily claim the rent...

I know this doesn't help much. I have posted a question on how to get help in resolving difficult rental situations but so far no reply to that.

Is the house furnished? Could it be rented short term to expats during the house hunt search?

Maybe you could try the various national clubs (Swiss, US, German, etc..), maybe you could find someone there ready to take over?

Good luck!

krak

Post by krak » Wed, 03 Aug 2005 1:19 pm

do not pay the last two months rent, whatever you do. Let the landlord take it from your deposit.

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geneva99
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Post by geneva99 » Wed, 03 Aug 2005 1:30 pm

Exactly! :wink:

Jar

Post by Jar » Wed, 03 Aug 2005 2:02 pm

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your inputs! I do have a someone who wants to take over the lease, however, it is specifically stated that I am not allowed to sublet the apartment. And I can't transfer the last 2 months rent as I will be heading home next week and have paid the rent for this month.

Do you think I should rent the place out to interested parties and ignore the clause and pray the owner would not detect (she's based in China and doesn't come to Singapore at all) or should I start factoring in my loss?

Thanks!

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geneva99
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Post by geneva99 » Wed, 03 Aug 2005 2:31 pm

If you have someone to take over the lease then I don't see why the owner should give you any hard time at all (unless she takes pleasure in it). It is in her best interest to have a new tenant without her lifting a finger or paying an agent.

If she retains your 2 months, given that she is not based here, she will have to hire an agent who will charge her this amount if not more + she could be faced with NOT finding a new tenant right away and not receiving rent for a while.

I suggest you present this sort of argument to her, clearly showing $$$$ she will be saving as I have noticed that landlords tend to respond to money better than to reason. Very sad.

Just a piece of advice: make sure that all the responses you get from your agent actually come from the owner as we have heard that some agents will not be paid (or less than expected) in case of the tenant breaking the lease or finding a new tenant themselves, hence playing THEIR game rather than the tenants (and not communicating at all with the owner). Sometimes, overriding the agent and communicating directly with the owner can help, provided also she allows to be contacted directly.

If everything fails, do not pay the last month.

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