Tenancy agreements/leases and your rights as a tenant

[mofobro]

All I can tell you is that everyone that I know who has rented an apartment in Singapore has had a major problem with their landlord.

These people here are the greediest bunch of MoFo's that have ever walked or rather slithered across the face of this island since jurrassic times.

They will slip it up your butt so quickly, you wont even have time to reach for the vasoline.. and unfortuately, there isnt much you can do, except find a job elsewhere. This little island ISNT paradise when you gotta rent from these neanderthals.

[Henrik A]

Hi I have rented a room in a condo. I chose the condo room instead of a normal HDB room, primarily because of the aircon, kitchen facilities (theres a proper oven...) and the nice pool, gym etc. Furthermore the owner is almost always out on business and there's a Korean mom and daughter, living in another room in the condo, who are really sweet. We are splitting the PUB evenly 3-ways.

After we have moved in, payed deposit, signed contract, payed agent fee the owner is now telling us of some house rules, that he wants me to sign. Most of them is very basic and understandable, eg. keep the house clean, dont be noisy after 11pm and so on.
However he doesn't wants us to use the aircon in the common areas like living and dining room and he sees best that we doesnt use the oven. Two prime factors of why we chose this place in the first place. None of these rules are mentioned in the contract.

Does anybody know if we have the legal right to use these facilities or we should pay extra for the usage of this? I understand that its not exactly fair when the PUB is split threeways, and the other tenants refrain from using these facilities, but we would not have chosen this place if we had known these rules.

Thank you for any reply

[macaroonie]

MOFOBRO - gosh that's a bit tough! what's your story? they got you real bad?

[captain moonlight]

Hi All,
I've gotten myself into a pretty tight situation and could use some advice...
My wife and I arrived in January and I had a 2yr work contract. We signed a 1yr lease on a flat and moved in in Feb. Unfortunately, things didn't work out with my job and I was unable to find a new position in Singapore. My new job requires we relocate and thus I was forced to break the lease.

I gave 2 months' notice (Jun & July). Over the next week our agent, the landlord's agent, and the landlord called my wife several times each day (I was out of the country) to inform her they would keep the deposit, we were liable to pay for the remainder of the year, and asking when we could move out. This is of course true, but it was bordering on harassment.

They said they found a tenant who wanted to move in on July 1st, although we had asked to stay until Aug 1st.

Our agent was a friend of the landlord's agent and it was quite obvious whose side he was on so I told him his services were no longer required.

I spoke with the landlord's agent who was pushing to get us to move out by July 10th, which I refused to do. We will relocate to a new country at the end of the July; it would be ridiculous to move into a Serviced Apartment 3 weeks before that.

The landlord called yesterday and said if we don't move out by July 10th she will take legal action. She said she would return the deposit minus the remainder of her agent's pro rata fee for the initial lease agreement. I said if I left on the 10th then I would need the deposit on the 10th, which of course she is not willing to do. I suggested that if the agent was able to find these prospective tenants within 7 days of my giving notice he should have no problem finding another in the next 6 weeks. The landlord replied that these tenants were a 'magic combination of British and Japanese' and it's well known amongst Singapore landlords that this is the best tenant combination...

I understand that I am in the wrong in this situation, but can she really throw us out with only 3 weeks notice? I am very uncomfortable with leaving without the promised return deposit because frankly I don't think I'll ever see it if I do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mofobro]

MOFOBRO - gosh that's a bit tough! what's your story? they got you real bad?

Sorry for the delayed reply... no they havent yet... but we move the end of August and I'll let you know. I've heard so many horror stories from my friends, you kinda want to load up on a 1 kilo tub of vasoline before you go thru the process. Been here 9 years and I think Singaporeans in general are the greediest, most arrogant, yet ignorant bunch of mofo's I've ever encountered anywhere in the world. They cant even walk down the freakin' street without bumping into you.. no street etiquate (sri but no spell check!), can barely park a Subaru in a space big enough for an 18 wheeler, rant and rave privately about Mr Big and Little big, yet when they walk up to the ballot box, they sheepishly cast their ballot for the home team, etc etc etc...Need I go on??

[mofobro]

Hi All,
I've gotten myself into a pretty tight situation and could use some advice...
My wife and I arrived in January and I had a 2yr work contract. We signed a 1yr lease on a flat and moved in in Feb. Unfortunately, things didn't work out with my job and I was unable to find a new position in Singapore. My new job requires we relocate and thus I was forced to break the lease.

I gave 2 months' notice (Jun & July). Over the next week our agent, the landlord's agent, and the landlord called my wife several times each day (I was out of the country) to inform her they would keep the deposit, we were liable to pay for the remainder of the year, and asking when we could move out. This is of course true, but it was bordering on harassment.

They said they found a tenant who wanted to move in on July 1st, although we had asked to stay until Aug 1st.

Our agent was a friend of the landlord's agent and it was quite obvious whose side he was on so I told him his services were no longer required.

I spoke with the landlord's agent who was pushing to get us to move out by July 10th, which I refused to do. We will relocate to a new country at the end of the July; it would be ridiculous to move into a Serviced Apartment 3 weeks before that.

The landlord called yesterday and said if we don't move out by July 10th she will take legal action. She said she would return the deposit minus the remainder of her agent's pro rata fee for the initial lease agreement. I said if I left on the 10th then I would need the deposit on the 10th, which of course she is not willing to do. I suggested that if the agent was able to find these prospective tenants within 7 days of my giving notice he should have no problem finding another in the next 6 weeks. The landlord replied that these tenants were a 'magic combination of British and Japanese' and it's well known amongst Singapore landlords that this is the best tenant combination...

I understand that I am in the wrong in this situation, but can she really throw us out with only 3 weeks notice? I am very uncomfortable with leaving without the promised return deposit because frankly I don't think I'll ever see it if I do.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, if you dont have the deposit in hand when you leave SG, you can bet your butt you'll NEVER see a penny of it.... I really dont know what to advise you..perhaps you should seek legal advice from a lawyer. But then, that's like going to bed with a shark to avoid a barracuda!

[captain moonlight]

Thanks mate!

Yeah, it's a tough situation. The landlord and the agent have obviously never had the brass to move off this island so they have no idea how expensive and complicated international relocation can be.

It seriously chafes me that we're being thrown out on the street 3 weeks before we leave the country only because the agent would rather keep the first tenants he found than look for new tenants for Aug. 1st, but what can you do?

They know that we won't bother taking it to court with only 3wks left in the country so they can get away with it!

Seems to be the motivation for most agents' scams here...

[mofobro]

Unfortunately, the chinese mentality is very different than a western mentality. Singapore is a beautiful place to live in but given the chance, they'll F#*K you to the wall with railroad spikes... there is little honor or integrity here.

[JayCee]

Mofobro - tell us what you really think

Sounds like 9 years here has ground you down, if you really can't stand the people it might be best to get out before it drives you crazy. Or do you think you'll stick it out?

I've been lucky with landlords (not agents) so far, but then I hand back the keys to my current place next week so we'll see if I still have the same opinion then

[mofobro]

Well.. haha.. I think I did!!

9 years here has taught me quite abit about the mind set of people here. This is one of the most beautiful countries in the world to live in. Unfortunately, they have a 1st world infrastructure (well.. maybe not the intersection of Thompson and Orchard Road!) but still a very kampung third world mentality when it comes to the average singaporean.

And.. its really a shame, because it's very unnecessary...

[sundaymorningstaple]

mofobro, I've been saying exactly the same thing nigh on 30 years now. And they still haven't changed. I call it a genetic deficiency. They're incapable of learning anything different. 35 years of courtesy campaigns prove it. And the speak Good English and the various other long running, long suffering campaigns have so aptly proved.

[mofobro]

mofobro, I've been saying exactly the same thing nigh on 30 years now. And they still haven't changed. I call it a genetic deficiency. They're incapable of learning anything different. 35 years of courtesy campaigns prove it. And the speak Good English and the various other long running, long suffering campaigns have so aptly proved.

AGREED! They are living proof that there really are Neanderthals walking the face of the earth... or living proof you can be brain dead and still sms!!

[tjwm338]

Hi

I have a question regarding termination of lease which I hope you could advise me on.

2 months ago in Apr, I had requested to renew my lease for another year seeing that my lease will expire in Jun.

However, the landlord asked for a price that I could not afford (seeing that the cost of rental has gone up).

As such, I started to look for a new place and found it. And also informed the landlord that I will be moving out 1 month earlier in May to which he agreed.

Therefore, I did not see the need in paying the last month's rental after giving early notification of me moving out.

Right now, the landlord is asking me to pay for the last month's rental as the agreed period of lease is until Jun. Is he right in doing this?

Thanks very much. Hope you could help clarify on this matter on what is the right thing to do.

[x9200]

Depends what is about the termination of the lease in your TA. Unless you have this:

And also informed the landlord that I will be moving out 1 month earlier in May to which he agreed.

on paper with his signature, it may be difficult to prove it.

[tjwm338]

The TA is very vague.

It just says that "in the event of premature termination of tenancy by the Tenant, the Tenant shall reimburse the Landlord for the commission paid by the Landlord to his agent in respect of the unexpired period of this tenancy. In addition to the balance of the full term of the said tenancy."

This really seems to say that as long as there is an early termination of tenancy, I will need to pay the commission paid by the landlord and also the balance of the full term of the said tenancy, in which case, is 1 month.

Is this true?

Thanks.