Renting House - Future Promise

[revhappy]

Hi Guys,

I am going to rent a new house. Currently the house isn't in great condition and not much of furnishing has been done. The agent is promising me that before the move-in date it would be repainted and newly furnished. I need to pay the deposit now. I am just worried that the agent may not fulfill the commitment.

Can you guys please suggest what do I do? Do I go ahead and take the risk and if so what do I need to ensure with regards to the tenacy agreement so that if the commitment is not fulfilled I can take the legal route(I doubt I have the perseverance to do that though)

Thanks in advance!
Revhappy

[macaroonie]

Hi Revhappy
I would definitely get all those things the agent promised down in writing! And get your own agent (i am assuming this agent you are talking about is the landlord's agent) to witness anything. It's also a bit of a risk renting a place that you really don't know what the condition will be before you move in - especially when it sounds like big changes. Why take the risk, why don't you rent something in better condition to begin with? less problems later on.

[irvine]

I wouldn't put any deposit down as long the place isn't cleaned up or done up yet. Go look around for places that may be also suitable for you.

I once was in the same situation as you, almost putting down, but glad we didn't. I remember driving by that place a month later, and it was still the same messy state, i.e. planks laying around from renovation work, gate still not aligned and without lock, etc.

[MinSG]

I had the same experience when I first moved to SG. I told the both agents that I would arrive SG and move into the house 1 day before the official move-in date as I was new to SG so needed at least half day to get familiarized with the surroundings and transport. The landlord and her agent verbally committed to repaint and refurnish the house before I moved in(agreement on paper was before official move-in date). When I reached the house at noon time, nobody was there and nothing was done per the agreement on paper. Then I called up both agents and landlord's agent kept telling me that the house would be ready as per agreement by 9pm.

I had no choice but to trust them so I stayed at my friend's place until 9pm. Landlord's agent called up the workers and really completed all the work by 9pm. However, the new paint smell made me difficult in living in the house. I made the complaint to the agents but they said that they had done what they committed. Eventually I had to accept it and sign the contract. Luckily my friend offered me to stay at his place for 2 weeks or more until the smell went away.

My advice to Revhappy is that, if you have a choice, you better go for ready-to-stay house. Even though the landlord commits to get you new furniture, it might not be the furniture you expected or felt comfortable with.