Mum and child moving to Singapore - Where do I start?

[sunchild]

HI all,

I'm moving to Sg with my 3.5 year old daughter from Bangkok. My salary isn't that great so I can afford a max of 1,500 for rent. I'll be working in City Hall area.

I'm looking for advice on a nice area and place to stay. Felt a bit overwhelmed when I looked at the listings on the site and didn't know where to start.

I want somewhere that is a reasonable size, 2 bed, pool and gym. Also it must be close to affordable child care facility or kindergarten. Don't mind it being out of the city as I'm sure it will be easy for me to travel to work.

One other thing is that I'd like to bring my nanny if at all possible from Thailand. Any advice on how I could manage that? It has been suggested that I try to get an agency to employ her then hire her through the agency. Any thoughts?

Any advice appreciated.

sunchild

[hillview2006]

Hi sunchild,

Rental in the city area is cost so much more than SGD1500 for a condo with 2 bedroom. But I think you can rent a condo in Bukit Timah area for SGD1500 a month. There’s so many child care centre in this neighbourhood and transportation is perfect too.

Regarding your maid. 2 things you can do. 1) You can direct hire her. Meaning you do all the paperwork yourself but you only can apply her work permit after you settled down in Singapore and she must remain in Thailand while waiting for the approval. The MOM requires your resident address where you need to submit your Tenancy Agreement together with all the needed documents. All this will cost you SGD10 for the processing fees and your precious time. The MOM wills response in exactly 7 days if submitted manually via post office/MOM office. 1 day if you submitted it online. Cool huh…

Second choice. You still have to settled in Singapore – get your tenancy agreement done and hire an agent to submit the application on behalf of you. The fees somewhere SGD180 to 200.

For more info pls check MOM website : www.mom.gov.sg


I hope all these infos will help!

[hillview2006]

OH ya.. forgot to mention this earlier.

The monthly maid levy is SGD345 for non-Singapore PR. So if your maid salary is SDG300p/m that’s meant you are kind of paying out SGD 645 monthly for having a maid.

[sunchild]

Great help. Thanks.

Sunchild.

[lookeo]

thought advertising or soliciting for business or even direct referral is not allowed here?

[sunchild]

Hi Lookeo,

I'll be coming on the 2-5th December to check out apartments. I'm looking to relocate at the end of Dec.

Cheers,

Sunchild