Early Termination

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 24 Mar 2011 5:28 pm

That'll work perfectly.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 24 Mar 2011 5:33 pm

I think the priority right now is understanding what the landlord is thinking and trying to achieve.

Tanama · Post by **Tanama** » Thu, 24 Mar 2011 5:37 pm

I think he's trying to keep our deposit and / or make us pay for breach of contract. We have realised he's a bit money minded, like charging us for stuff which he gets free.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Thu, 24 Mar 2011 5:49 pm

Tanama wrote:I think he's trying to keep our deposit and / or make us pay for breach of contract. We have realised he's a bit money minded, like charging us for stuff which he gets free.

Oh so he's Chinese then?

Have you looked at Small Claims Court (the SG version)?

.... he can't make you pay for 'breach of contract' as in faulty notice, as in my opinion your notice is valid. This kind of toe-rag needs a blunderbuss to know that you can't be messed with.

'Hit hard and hit first'. That was advice given to me before my first legal action. This guy needs to know that his life is going to be so completely miserable if he tries to short-change you that it just isn't worth even trying.

Saint · Post by **Saint** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:18 am

Tanama wrote:I think he's trying to keep our deposit and / or make us pay for breach of contract. We have realised he's a bit money minded, like charging us for stuff which he gets free.

Not sure what other advice we can give other than what we've recommended above. Give the HDB a call and find out if owner has approval. If he hasn't you have got the upper hand.

Tanama · Post by **Tanama** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 1:53 pm

Thanks everyone.. Let's see how it goes. He has wanted to meet up end of the month and discuss further.

No, he's not Chinese.. Indian origin Singaporean.. Not from South India

BillyB · Post by **BillyB** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 1:56 pm

Tanama wrote:Thanks everyone.. Let's see how it goes. He has wanted to meet up end of the month and discuss further.

No, he's not Chinese.. Indian origin Singaporean.. Not from South India

If thats the case, I sincerely wish you all the best if you are trying to get money out of him!!

Tanama · Post by **Tanama** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:06 pm

I'm not going to say anything in case the moderators think I'm racist and ban me from this forum

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:22 pm

Saint wrote:
Tanama wrote:I think he's trying to keep our deposit and / or make us pay for breach of contract. We have realised he's a bit money minded, like charging us for stuff which he gets free.
Not sure what other advice we can give other than what we've recommended above. Give the HDB a call and find out if owner has approval. If he hasn't you have got the upper hand.

My 2 cents: calling HDB is not a good idea - you will be forced to pack up and disappear .. Happened to more than a few friends, and not only the landlord is guilty, the tenant too is guilty, as ignorance of the law is not an excuse .. (hence the word "approved" flat in classifieds . ...)

worst case, do what people do such idiots - delay payment or hold back the last month payment, and give some silly excuse - he can't pre-empt action by filing a case especially since you said one room is locked, it is 99% possible that it was an illegal rental -what's he gonna say "your honor, my illegal tenant is trying to cheat me by refusing to pay my illegal rental cost ??"

I am sure the ploy is to make sure you forget the deposit, as the deposit is spent for holidays, and / or to furnish your house when you moved in ..

Regardless of race, there are enough landlords who make silly excuses to hold back the deposit .. and then some will say "pay me until last month and two months later, I will refund .. "

And for that matter, a Serviced Apartment operator's agent quoted 2 months deposit for a 2 week stay - knowing very much that they 1 month can be swallowed for 'damages and cleaning' ..

Don't pay him, and if he threatens or irritates you, go to the nearby police post, and show all documents .. and tell them the landlord is harassing you .. DON'T GO TO HDB .

And, for that mater, I would also ensure that I spent a couple of hundred $ and changed the room locks .. if nobody is at home during day time ..

Some landlords have known to steal the tenancy agreement and claim innocence .. especially since he holds the main door key ..

meeting him and discuss - discuss what ?? Damn .. for a start, tell him you are packing up and ask him to fly a kite - if he threatens, make sure you record it, and go to the cops .. end of story ..

Don't waste your time with such silly bullies ..

PS: if the landlord is so adamant that you are lying, most likely it means you guys have been paying a fantastic rent, and he is loathe to letting go of the golden egg laying goose

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:27 pm

To add on, I was staying in an unapproved flat, in Bukit Panjang, and after 6 months of moving, I lost my job, and I told my landlord I need to vacate to a cheaper place

He did the same ra-ra (no, he wasn't indian/singaporean) and even threatened me with legal action.

I bluntly asked him I will not pay rent, since I can't afford it, and since he insists I must stay .. and despite his quoting the clause such as "must depart the country - must show proof .. etc etc'. the NPP adviced me he can't do crap - I had one month deposit, and when the last month came, I didn't pay him and told him to send me a bill, if he finds any damages, and take it up with small claims court .. that was the end of the story ..

7 years later, I am still in Singapore .. and also learnt, that despite the contract period, insist on one month deposit - though agents try to hold the deposit - and yes, they do hold the deposit if the owner is too rich / busy and it is the agent who pulls all crap when he / she realises that the money has to be paid up instead of rolling when the next tenant comes in and blindly pays for 2 months deposit ..

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:28 pm

Tanama wrote:Thanks everyone.. Let's see how it goes. He has wanted to meet up end of the month and discuss further.

No, he's not Chinese.. Indian origin Singaporean.. Not from South India

A tongue in cheek comment - so could it be he was a Indian origin Singaporean from North India ??

BillyB · Post by **BillyB** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:31 pm

ecureilx wrote:
Tanama wrote:Thanks everyone.. Let's see how it goes. He has wanted to meet up end of the month and discuss further.

No, he's not Chinese.. Indian origin Singaporean.. Not from South India
A tongue in cheek comment - so could it be he was a Indian origin Singaporean from North India ??

No sh*t sherlock!! You must have took your dose of vitamin C this morning!!

Tanama · Post by **Tanama** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:36 pm

Ha ha.. No, I just didn't want to re-enforce any stereotypes.. Hence the 'not South Indian' bit... Never minddd...

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:50 pm

BillyB wrote:No sh*t sherlock!! You must have took your dose of vitamin C this morning!!

Must be the double dose of the Stresstabs I took

Anyway, to the OP - well, as I said, I am still wondering what is there to 'discuss' with the landlord .. as you are going away, and he is hell bent on keeping the deposit- or trying a fast one like 'I will send the deposit a month after you vacate' knowing the chance of you coming here to chase the deposit is slim ..

If he is planning a 'show of force' then, even better reason to tell him to write to you - and not meet up ..

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 25 Mar 2011 2:53 pm

Unfortunately, there are bad landlords here of every race & religion. None have a monopoly. The only reason there are more Chinese landlords that do it is because there are more Chinese!

SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore

Early Termination

Search By

LOCATION

AMENITY

KEYWORD

DISTRICT

Who is online