Relocation Package Ideas

[robin37]

Hello,

Can anyone advise what is a decent relocation package for a married couple with one child going to an International School.

I know it is an open question/amout but we have to pay for
House deposit/rental
School deposit/term fee

Is S$30k enough topay deposits?

Thanks

[spaul]

Robin,

Difficult to answer as you don't mention which school or what your housing budget is. My family and I have just relocated as of December so I can offer you this.

Housing deposits are normally 1 month's rent for a one year lease and 2 months for two years. Not sure if this is law or just common practice but it was what I was told. Depending on the agent you use, you may also end up paying 1/2 to 1 full months rent as an agent fee. If you use the agents associated with this site, rents over S$2500 per month are not charged an agents fee.

As for schooling, the norm we found was 1 term/semester tuition was required as a deposit. They also try to get you to pay the entire year and deposit upfront but if needed, I'm sure you could work something out with the school. I found most of the International Schools to be from S$7000 - S$12,000 per semester/term.

You will also need to consider some other smaller deposits such as utilities, cable TV etc. We recently set up our utilities and because it is a private contract (not through our company) and I am on an EP, the deposit was S$500. Cable TV was S$250.

So depending on what you are looking for in terms of housing, what school you are considering etc 30K may or may not be enough for your particular situation. Hope this helps.

[EADG]

here's an interesting factiod - the deposit used to be SGD $300, now it's SGD $500, and that only applies to foreigners

discrimination?

You will also need to consider some other smaller deposits such as utilities, cable TV etc. We recently set up our utilities and because it is a private contract (not through our company) and I am on an EP, the deposit was S$500. Cable TV was S$250.

[skye]

I don't think it is discrimination, just practical financial sense. EP and WP holders can and often do leave at short notice, leaving no assets in Singapore. It seems reasonable to me for utility companies to hold a deposit against any outstanding bills or equipment like cable boxes not returned. Citizens and PRs are much more likely to have tangible assets here and want to return to Singapore, so are less likely to leave with bills unpaid.