Probl w frniture in rentd condo-can owner change furniture?

[iis]

I've been renting this nice condo (Blue Horizon) fully furnished, in west coast for 1.5 yrs, suddenly the landlord wants to change the TV console as it was old he said. Having no ill feeling with the landlord, I said yes when he also said he wants to bring sofa & remove the old one.
Yes, he sent me a better TV console, however the sofa was far worse than I used to have. My previous sofa was leather, still in good condition, while the one he sent is a fabric sofa, dusty & more dirty.

As my children have asthma & allergic to dust, they started to sneeze as soon as they sit on it. I asked the landlord to take away this fabric sofa as we have this tenancy contract till July 2007, and the furniture we saw when we agreed upon was the previous leather sofa.

He replied that it's up to him to provide what type of sofa (as long as it's 3 & 2 seaters) as it's a rented condo belong to him. When I really asked him to return the previous sofa as the one he sent is lesser quality, he told me that the fabric sofa is more expensive than the previous leather sofa (maybe when it's new, not when it's worn out like now), which I don't care, as my children start to cough and runny nose (health problem).

When I insist to have the previous sofa, since the contract is leagally bind for 2 years, he told me that I can go to my lawyer to settle this matter.

Being a foreigner, I'm really upset with this problem with my singaporean landlord. Specially since my children health are affected.
What a great & unforgettable experience in Singapore.....

Can landlord do such thing? Is it Legal?

[lost_canuck]

I don't know the rules, but perhaps you could tell the landlord the problem with your children and consider getting the sofa steam cleaned at his cost?

Otherwise check the contract, you could break it then, but it wouldn't be to your advantage, sadly with the market the way it is he will win.

[iis]

Thanks for the advise lost_canuck, I've told the landlord about my children problems. Don't think abt the steam clean though as the sofa is too dirty...., just want the old one back/ no sofa at all

Didn't think abt moving out as we may rellocated again in 6 mths, my husband contract till Jul 07, will be too hassle...

Finally after some argumentation, the landlord agreed to change the sofa back to the old one, but we must pay the transport $150....
What a 'nice' landlord, it's his idea to change sofa, I'm happy with the furniture he gave from start, I never said agreed to change, now I have to bear the transport to have it back....

Is this what singaporean do to foreigners when the government is attracting foreigners to come to singapore?

At least I'll have the old sofa back....

[lost_canuck]

well I am glad you are getting the old sofa back, but what a way to make a quick $150, it is disgusting behaviour.


Not to mention we were quoted to move a desk across singapore for $40.

Anyway I guess with the short term best to bow to his demands, although I would not like to be his future tennat. I guess short of taking him to court there is not much you can do.

I think this is why I opted for no furniture really. I kinda wish they would come take thier stuff

[sundaymorningstaple]

While this kinda crap isn't the norm here it does happen with surprising regularity. Enough so that it could almost become a stereotype of LL's. This is especially so when dealing with foreigners which tends to be the majority of tenants when you stop to think that 90+% of Singaporeans own their own homes and one out of 4 people on this island are foreigners currently (25% of the population).

[Oriental]

Anyway I guess with the short term best to bow to his demands......

No way! Make the landlords life a living hell instead. Scrutinize the contract and use it to its fullest. Tell him time and time again that the way he conducts his business is attracting bad karma and that it will bring him very bad luck in the future. Stress him until he complies. It will make you feel much better

[iis]

Anyway I guess with the short term best to bow to his demands......

No way! Make the landlords life a living hell instead.

Thanks for your support guys...
I wish I can make my LL life aliving hell...!!! however knowing that I still have 2 months deposit with him, which will be calculated in short future.....I only remind him that it's his idea, I'm happy with my old sofa, never asked anything, he wants to change the sofa & I simply allowed him coz he's the owner, not that I'm agreed but in the end I have to bear the charges...
I asked him if he's in my position, what will he think? Is it Fair?
Let him answer that himself, eventhough not sure he'll think about it...., this person is un imaginable...., even my agent is very angry with him...., never seen LL as bad as this she said.

not to mention there was a dispute at the beginning of the tenancy, in the letter of intent his agent promise to provide all new furniture. However, when we signed the contract there was changes here & there, basically we saw that not every furniture are new. However, we settle the dispute that time as he provides some other new stuff (not every single thing as promised). I should have realise that time...(too late now....) & cancel the agreement right away. Thought that after 1.5 yrs he's ok, turn out he's still crap....
I guess he's really looking forward to have new tenant this July as he kept saying that my rent is cheap....of course 2 yrs ago the market was rock bottom..., now he said can have 1.5 times my rent..., maybe yes maybe not specially with the kind of furniture he provides, i.e. he gave me old TV with no remote control....
For condo worth 700k, I can say his furniture is worse than HDB...
So beware friends, anybody who's interested with Blue Horizon condo, tower C 5th Fl...., this landlord is somebody you don't want to deal in your whole life...., at least for me.