Renting in Singapore

[Saurheledion]

Hey there, I'm a student from the US who will coming to Singapore this August. I'll be studying here for the next two years. I was thinking I'd rent a space for 1 year with the option of renewing. I just had a couple of questions about renting that'd I really would like to run by you guys if its ok?

I'm starting to educate myself on the finer details of the Singapore leasing market. As I understand it, and please correct me if I'm wrong, there are agents who represent landlords and there agents that tenants can employ to find an apartment on their behalf. If I approach an agent representing a landlord for a particular property, then in a sense that agent is working on the behalf of both myself and the landlord and thus will be wanting 1/2 a month's rent comish from the both of us (if the lease is for 1 year)?

Now as I understand it these are general guidelines, and that since I put forth the effort of finding the place myself I could theoretically refuse to pay comish but then risk not gaining the flat simply because the agent can refuse me?

If so, then I suppose it would be in my best interest to just find an agent to find a place for me who I will still have to pay 1/2 a month's rent, but will at least be on my side pushing for lower rent and making sure the contract carries these changes:
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic60579.html. Then my agent finds a place and negotiates with the landlord's agent, and each gets a 1/2 month from their respective client and I'm out no more money than if I had done all the work myself?

Or is that too much to hope for?

As a side question, I'm going to be rooming with 2, 3, or possibly even 4 other students depending on how we divide ourselves up when we all meet in August. This may be just a dream on my part and I'm just beginning to learn about the different districts so maybe this isn't in my best interests, but I was kind of hoping for for a place in Chinatown close to an MRT where my share would be at tops $900 SGD or maybe even lower. Is that feasible?

I really appreciate any and all assistance in this matter. Thanks!

[sundaymorningstaple]

The best assistance you can get is to go a good read of this forum where this question is a weekly if not daily question. See particularly, new CEA rulings on agents.

moderator

[beppi]

My advice: Go without agent!
To come up with a rental contract for four people sharing a flat, and to find a landlord comfortable with this, is way beyond the average intelligence of this species.

[matchbox]

check out some local websites for renting options...
e.g. http://www.flatsdb.com/ or of course this website!

[ChicaDelMar]

I haven't seen anything that looks reasonable for less that $1100. The rental prices are absolutely ridiculous!!

[nakatago]

I haven't seen anything that looks reasonable for less that $1100. The rental prices are absolutely ridiculous!!

If that's a whole flat, it's amazing that you even found one.
If it's a room, that is redonkulously expensive.

(yeah, I know it's the latter, ok?)

[Shawn2880]

rooms normally cost btw 500-900, of course depending on locations and conditions of the room

[sundaymorningstaple]

Just joined

two posts

both real estate orientated

spidey-sense tingling

tic...toc...tic...toxic....

[luminoso]

Hey there, I'm a student from the US who will coming to Singapore this August. I'll be studying here for the next two years. I was thinking I'd rent a space for 1 year with the option of renewing. I just had a couple of questions about renting that'd I really would like to run by you guys if its ok?

I'm starting to educate myself on the finer details of the Singapore leasing market. As I understand it, and please correct me if I'm wrong, there are agents who represent landlords and there agents that tenants can employ to find an apartment on their behalf. If I approach an agent representing a landlord for a particular property, then in a sense that agent is working on the behalf of both myself and the landlord and thus will be wanting 1/2 a month's rent comish from the both of us (if the lease is for 1 year)?

Now as I understand it these are general guidelines, and that since I put forth the effort of finding the place myself I could theoretically refuse to pay comish but then risk not gaining the flat simply because the agent can refuse me?

If so, then I suppose it would be in my best interest to just find an agent to find a place for me who I will still have to pay 1/2 a month's rent, but will at least be on my side pushing for lower rent and making sure the contract carries these changes:
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic60579.html. Then my agent finds a place and negotiates with the landlord's agent, and each gets a 1/2 month from their respective client and I'm out no more money than if I had done all the work myself?

Or is that too much to hope for?

As a side question, I'm going to be rooming with 2, 3, or possibly even 4 other students depending on how we divide ourselves up when we all meet in August. This may be just a dream on my part and I'm just beginning to learn about the different districts so maybe this isn't in my best interests, but I was kind of hoping for for a place in Chinatown close to an MRT where my share would be at tops $900 SGD or maybe even lower. Is that feasible?

I really appreciate any and all assistance in this matter. Thanks!

Just forget about agents.. they are blood suckers and many on this forum have posted horror stories about how agents have treated them.

EasyRoomMates is one option.

RentDirect is another (better) option IMO.

Both are paid services but whatever money you pay is going to be a pittance compared to the commission that you will have to pay to an agent - and you will be able to get stuff done quicker too.

Agents = earning profits from BLOCKING ACCESS to information. They do not add value at all.

[fxman]

All boils down to your budget in the end. If you do not wish to pay for agent fees, invest more time on searching on the internet for some websites on room rental in Singapore. Save cost, stay in HDB apartment.