Rental Increases?!!?! :(

[sundaymorningstaple]

the rent has drop to S$3.2 today

educated at the superb local schools lah our kids will talk like this too in a few years

Yeah, and write like that as well!

[sundaymorningstaple]

There is a spacious private apartment at Farrer Court. 3 bedrooms, decently furnish. Landlord asked for S$4k initially, no takers the last I heard, the rent has drop to S$3.2 today.

This one gave it away, a local agent...

The rent has dropped.

In reality, all of his/her posts are pretty obviously that of an agent. However, as he/she has not actually advertised as such, we cannot do anything. So far his/her posts have been helpful as opposed to self-serving. "IF" they are an agent and "IF" the former becomes the latter I'll make like one of our old friend's nick (who still has a bit of a boner against us but.......) you know.......WHAM! Bye-Bye agent.

In the meantime I will give the benefit of the doubt.

moderator

[la2]

hi everyone. I was directed to the forum when I searched for info regarding HDB for rent. I then read this thread all the way back and I do sympathise with expats having to deal with higher rents.
Here I am, a local helpful sis of a landlord, thinking of how to price reasonably the rent of a 4 room HDB flat in Simei... perhaps some of you can shed some light here. Note that I have nothing to gain from higher rent; it's just trying to help my brother (based overseas now) to secure the best price.
The situation is that it had been leased to a group of 6 chinese technicians and I wouldn't say they keep the flat in good condition. We have been collecting $900; it is an approved flat with only one heater at kitchen, one air-con at master bedroom; basic stuff though not beautifully furnished ...
I've informed my bro that if he wishes to lease out at $1.8k & above, he would need to do more, extra $ from increased rental to buy/install heater/air-con/new curtains/new sofa etc...
I am thinking of renting out unfurnished - then what's the reasonable price?
Hope you all can help.

[k1w1]

Who are you hoping is going to rent the property? A small flat in Simei, which you admit is in bad condition, and has no aircon or water heaters. Most expats consider these things to be very basic amenities within an apartment - so even if you rent it unfurnished, expats would expect to see these things in it.

As for asking for $1800+, I am not sure where you got such a figure. It is nothing close to reasonable. You're currently getting $900 for the place now. Why would you think you could get double - or more than double?

Let's say you furnished it (properly, not with crap from Giant as I have seen in some "furnished" apartments), got water heaters and aircon units and painted the place up. You might be able to get $1500 for it at the moment. The place is in Simei though, so I think you're very limited in what you can reasonably ask for it. I know a few people at the moment who are moving into HDB's, or looking at renting them. Most of them are expecting to pay below $2000 and want something nice, and in a good area (ie: very easy commute to the centre of the city). But then again, most people wanting to rent an approved flat would probably jut go to JTC directly. I'm pretty sure none of their flats will be at current market rates. Why don't you see what they're asking for a similar place to your brother's. Might be a good guide.

[Makan24-7]

So far his/her posts have been helpful as opposed to self-serving.

As long as the above quote is true, I'd say leave him be and let's reap the benefits from the additional information.

[la2]

k1w1, thanks for your comments. Hmmm... i was thinking of $1.3k to 1.4k for existing tenants & we will install new heater at kitchen. Well, there's only air-con at master bedroom.
So, for $1.8k, thought we need to install 2 more air-con blower to the 2 other bedroom and install the heater at the master bedroom.
And, repaint house, acid wash floors, re-do table top for kitchen cabinets etc... so do these all make sense?

sigh... which is why i thot rent out unfurnish at a much lower price, say, $1200 .. i really don't know..

[Jens]

Hey guys,

reading about "approved HDBs"...just recently I read in this forum, that the government has made some changes and you do NOT have to keep 1 room locked in order to rent out the HDB, instead you can rent out the whole place...?

I am now staying in a 2-room condo in the west for 1.4k/month.luckily I signed up a 2-years contract, but latest by end of next year I'm gonna face a huge problem.

My salary is being reduced (housing allowance) and if the prices stay like this, it might be even hard to find a HDB flat for my budget and then I would need to go back...

[German_Expat]

I also have the same problem, also staying in a condo in the west mainly because my housing allowance was terminated and the place where I stayed before increased by 100% In 2009 I also have to leave Singapore for that same reason - extortionate rental increases. But, there are houses(not apartments) for rent in Johor near the second link. $700 a month, my wife and I are looking into this option. Getting to and from work from Johor is not much more inconvenient than from Jurong West. The other benefit I see is that at weekends there are much more places to go to, much more open space, more to do if you like to venture out.

[MblSH]

I also have the same problem, also staying in a condo in the west mainly because my housing allowance was terminated and the place where I stayed before increased by 100% In 2009 I also have to leave Singapore for that same reason - extortionate rental increases. But, there are houses(not apartments) for rent in Johor near the second link. $700 a month, my wife and I are looking into this option. Getting to and from work from Johor is not much more inconvenient than from Jurong West. The other benefit I see is that at weekends there are much more places to go to, much more open space, more to do if you like to venture out.

Aren't you going to have your passport fully covered in entry/exit stamps in a month? I mean, if you gonna have to cross the border every day?

[German_Expat]

Aren't you going to have your passport fully covered in entry/exit stamps in a month? I mean, if you gonna have to cross the border every day?

I am not sure how it works, but I was told there is a access card for exactly that reason.... but this is the least of my worries

[MblSH]

Lucky you; I can't change my passport here, and I have one page left on it already

[k1w1]

I also have the same problem, also staying in a condo in the west mainly because my housing allowance was terminated and the place where I stayed before increased by 100% In 2009 I also have to leave Singapore for that same reason - extortionate rental increases. But, there are houses(not apartments) for rent in Johor near the second link. $700 a month, my wife and I are looking into this option. Getting to and from work from Johor is not much more inconvenient than from Jurong West. The other benefit I see is that at weekends there are much more places to go to, much more open space, more to do if you like to venture out.

We have been having this discussion at our house a bit recently too. My colleagues have all been forced into smaller, nastier condos and mostly for higher rents than they were paying when their original rentals doubled. I have no reason to think our rent will not skyrocket when our lease comes up.

We are bound to stay here now, for a bit longer as we're stuck in contracts and my husband is caught up in study, and can't leave. We already live quite far west, so the second link doesn't really sound that bad to me... There are condos and communities springing up next to the second link, and they're being marketed as places to stay, "within easy commute to Singapore". And all going for a very good price.

A couple of questions though:
1. What kind of visa do you need to live (but not work) in MY? Is this easily obtainable?
2. Can you buy a MY vehicle if you have EP's in SG? From what I've heard this would be a better idea than driving a SG car in MY...
3. How does a maid get a permit to live in MY and come into SG on a very regular basis?

Have you come across any of these things yet, German Expat (or anyone else)?

[Superglide]

Not to burst a bubble, but have you looked a bit deeper into the security / safety situation in JB?

[Jens]

safety is definitely an issue...somemore it is not only the visa problem, also the toll fees for second link are higher.

I have been travelling to Senai for a few weeks from Sing and every day I paid about S$12 on toll fees. Of course you don't have to go all the way to senai, but Singapore exit and entry is S$3.70 each then shortly after entering MY you have to pay another MYR 8.40. If you sum this up to 21 working days, you pay about S$240 and although fuel is cheaper there, you might have to pay more, as your milage is more.

Currently I am staying and working in the west. It takes me about 25 mins by car to make the 11km to work, because of the traffic. We have some co-workers from MY, but they all riding bikes, no cars.
If you intend to get a MY car, Im not sure how much you gotta pay to enter Singapore.

I think moving to MY is not an option for me...

I am just hoping, that the rentals are going down anytime soon. I see so many empty units, where people are just waiting to make the big deal...even the old but popular Parc Oasis is showing almost 40(!) empty units on this website. 1, 2 years ago, there were never more than 5 or 7. I hope its just a matter of time, thats all I can do as of now.

[Makan24-7]

Darn. JB? It's catching up with Skid Row in LA... Wouldn't advise living there if you can help it.