Businesses in Shophouses

[yeegf]

Hi everyone,

I am setting up a Portrait Studio in Singapore, I intend to rent a shophouse with at least 4 rooms at 600 Square Feet each, excluding 2 toilets and a reception hall of at least 450 Square Feet.

However in my search for Shophouses, most of these Shophouses no longer seem to be Shophouses. Rather they are Residential Houses. An example of a link I came across is this, ttp://www.urbanespaces.com/SHOPHOUSES.htm . You can click on the links in the middle to see other shophouses.

Most if not all of the 'Shophouses' seem to be houses instead of shophouses, there is no mentioning of Businesses or Shops.

Do housing agencies actually specialise in finding shophouses for businesses? e.g ERA or some other popular housing agencies

[taxico]

there're different types of shop houses and not all are suitable/possible for use as photo studios.

do you have a general area or location? are you looking at the shop houses in the "heartlands" or a conservation/conservation-style shop house closer to the city?

most HDB shop houses are about 550-700 sq feet per unit, per level (2 per unit). my wife uses a pair of shop houses which combine to give her 4 times that space.

whatever type of shop house you get, 600 sq feet x 4 rooms + 450 sq feet x 1 reception + 2 toilets = high rent

you might do better applying to URA (?) to use a residential property as a home office (photo studio) - this is possible as my friend has done so and operates a photography business and studio in a 3-storey semi-detached house with a decent sized yard.

yes, there are agents/agencies that specialize in commercial shop houses. negotiate before engaging one, on whether you pay any/some/no commissions.

good luck in your hunt.

[funkydory]