"The Landlord wants to double your rental"

[zzm9980]

Get a property agent.

Some property agencies keep track of rental price transacted by their agents. Ask your agent to check and look over their shoulder.

Keep in mind most property agents are paid a percentage of the total lease as their commission. Looking at the rates they were able to obtain may not be your best metric.

If you do use an agent, I'd also suggest negotiating a fixed rate with them based on what you'd want to pay for your rental. Setup a higher commission the lower the rent they obtain for you.

[Beyond_Redemption]

Marc123

If you don't mind ... my 2 cents...

"after few experiences and landlords, that your are better in negotiating your rental in Singapore?" - I would hope so - stayed in SG for about 8 years - lost a total of 7K in stolen security deposits ! balance of my stay only rented from the gahmen!

Now looking to come back (gawd I love the place !) -

I feel like you're not being aggro enough. The LL s take advantage of natural inertia against the hassle of moving. Well, easier said than done, but I guess as Segue & others hinted, once you've fixed that chink in your amour - Just work the 75% numbers x Sq Footage from the URA website and TELL the LL that you'll bloody shift out then !

Of course this is all dutch courage ! We'll see how I do when I actually get in !

[west2east]

The reason most countries regulate tenancies is because it has such a negative effect on society if they don't

People miss work, they miss meetings, they call in sick (e.g. in countries that pay sick leave)

In the Singapore situation, it is a lot of non-productive energy that is wasted. Just imagine if you could harness the energy of all those people frantically looking for alternative flats because of a ridiculous rent increase: would all the cumulative un-necessary effort be enough to solve world poverty, or at least to solve the banking crisis?

Possibly, yes

There is also the greed phenomenon, people feel they are ripped off because they have to pay thousands of dollars in moving costs and lost security deposit, so they rip off someone else in turn, and society goes down hill

[teck21]

The reason most countries regulate tenancies is because it has such a negative effect on society if they don't

Most locals do not rent.

[JR8]

The reason most countries regulate tenancies is because it has such a negative effect on society if they don't

They don't regulate tenancies in the UK because such regulation has such a deleterious effect on the rentals market.

I don't recall them doing so in New York or Tokyo either.

[ecureilx]

The reason most countries regulate tenancies is because it has such a negative effect on society if they don't

Most locals do not rent.

Most locals, in view of the inflation and lowering pay scale, view foreigners rental income as a fill-in-the-gap, atleast those whom I know

And with HDB enforcing strict control on occupancy, the market became larger .. and locals are not blind to see the opportunity to make more $$$$

[x9200]

And this really works by doubling the rent? C'mon, it is like with many things around - what is missing is a common sense not a legislation. Vast majority of such people loses actually money thanks to their pure canned greed and/or some losing face related issue (will not let it out cheaper than my neighbor did). The problem is they are too stupid or too blinded to see it by themselves.

[ecureilx]

And this really works by doubling the rent? C'mon, it is like with many things around - what is missing is a common sense not a legislation. Vast majority of such people loses actually money thanks to their pure canned greed and/or some losing face related issue (will not let it out cheaper than my neighbor did). The problem is they are too stupid or too blinded to see it by themselves.

You been in Singapore long enough ... and you should know that natives are pretty much on to gambling on anything .. including demand a rent hike and if the tenant refuse, kick him out and wait for a guy willing to pay .. then a few months later, realise that the gamble didn't work, and then, meekly lower the rental

Even commercial properties, The landlord reads a report that forecasts a rental rise, and demands that the tenant pays more .. tenant packs up and leaves, place stays empty for a while before rental at lower price .. that includes landlords who are govt linked .. and it is very obvious - see how many tenants move in and out in malls .. except those anchor tenants .. especially in FnB !!!

[ecureilx]

Reminds me of the following story .. well applicable in Singapore ..

It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets.

When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

Also, being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"

"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the weather service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared.

A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?"

"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's definitely going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find.

Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"

"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's going to be one of the coldest winters ever."

"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting wood like crazy."

I rest my case !!!!!

[west2east]

They don't regulate tenancies in the UK because such regulation has such a deleterious effect on the rentals market.

I don't recall them doing so in New York or Tokyo either.

Actually, they don't regulate the price when you start a lease, but they do have a complaints process for rent rises. Landlords can put the rent up 5% or 10% every year and usually get away with it if the market is good, but none of this nonsense about doubling the rent.

In other words, not every rent contract (or rent rise) gets looked at, but if anyone tries something stupid, they know the tenant is going to run to the rent review board

Landlords (whether they are local or otherwise) are also looking out for any evidence that

a) your company is paying big bonuses
b) your company has good profits for the year
c) you are spending money (e.g. a new car)

and if they see any of the above, in any country, you can expect them to try their luck with a rent increase. That is why two-thirds of the billionaires keep their identities discreet (and only one-third have a profile like Steve Jobs or Richard Branson), they don't want to be charged $100 every time they get in a taxi or buy an ice cream

[ecureilx]

Actually, they don't regulate the price when you start a lease, but they do have a complaints process for rent rises. Landlords can put the rent up 5% or 10% every year and usually get away with it if the market is good, but none of this nonsense about doubling the rent.

In other words, not every rent contract (or rent rise) gets looked at, but if anyone tries something stupid, they know the tenant is going to run to the rent review board

Rent Review Board - Is that in Singapore ?

[west2east]

Rent Review Board - Is that in Singapore ?

No, that is the UK system, it's actually called a `rent officer'

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/index.html

So, contrary to the previous comment, the UK market does regulate rent prices, but with a very hands off approach

[west2east]

It should be fairly obvious, too, but the reason most rental contracts have a yearly inspection clause is so that the landlord can find out if you are living it up (flat screen TV, designer wardrobe, multiple maids) and therefore how much more rent he can get away with.

[zzm9980]

I don't recall them doing so in New York or Tokyo either.

NYC does have some rent controlled apartments. So does San Francisco. I'm not sure the exact conditions for either how a unit becomes "rent controlled", but IMO it is a reason why the non-controlled units have such ridiculously high rents in those locations.

[west2east]

NYC does have some rent controlled apartments. So does San Francisco. I'm not sure the exact conditions for either how a unit becomes "rent controlled", but IMO it is a reason why the non-controlled units have such ridiculously high rents in those locations.

Not quite: rent prices depend on a range of things: salaries, (un)employment, number of properties and transport options

Having rent-controlled/reserved properties impacts only one of those factors, because it means less properties available.