renting condo as a tourist

[Tom1976]

Hi guys!

I want to rent a condo in Singapore (from the ones advertised on this website).

I will only have the 90 day tourist stamp when renting. Am I eligible to rent?

I will be travelling a lot in and out of the country, probably spending total of 5-6 months of the year in Singapore.

Thanks,
Thomas

[zzm9980]

Am I eligible to rent?

No.

Hotel or Service Apartment are you only legal options.

[Tom1976]

are there Serviced Apartments available for about S$3k?

[kindred]

Is it literally that black and white? What about renting a room off someone?

[zzm9980]

are there Serviced Apartments available for about S$3k?

You can get a Service Apartment for a lot less than that, but you'll be somewhere like Geylang. The cheapest I'm aware of that are decent (thinking ~3star hotel in US) is about S$4k+

[zzm9980]

Is it literally that black and white? What about renting a room off someone?

This is Singapore; Most laws are very black and white (and usually black, or not in the foreigners favor). Enforcement may not be black and white, but then the OP is opening himself up to being scammed with no recourse, or caned if the government gets involved.

Mandatory Caning Sentences: Singapore has a mandatory caning sentence for vandalism offenses. Authorities in Singapore may also impose caning for immigration violations and other offenses. Singaporean authorities do impose these sentences on foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1017.html

[therat]

http://www.ura.gov.sg/homeowner/landtit ... operty.htm

short term rental is illegal

Residential properties like apartments, flats, condominium units and landed houses are approved for residential purpose in accordance with the residential zone in the Master Plan. These residential properties or their individual rooms within the premises should not be rented out on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Such short-term occupancy, with transient occupiers, creates disturbances and inconveniences to other bona fide residents in the development. Premises that are approved for residential use are for longer term stays of 6 months or more.

[Tom1976]

I would have no problem signing a 2 year lease.

Thanks,
Thomas

[nakatago]

I would have no problem signing a 2 year lease.

Thanks,
Thomas

A resident visa is still required.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Short Term/ Long Term no difference. If you do not have a residency visa you cannot rent. residency visa must be for a minimum of 6 months.

Resiency visas = Work Permit (WP); Employment Pass (S, Q, P2, P1) or Personal Employment Pass (PEP). Also included are LTVPs with terms of at least 6 months and valid student passes with terms of longer than 6 months. If you are on a SVP, no. If you are on a Student Visa of only 3 to 6 months, NO.

[Tom1976]

Thank you for the clarification.

I have a friend who has leased a condo, he works in Singapore. Do you see controversy in me staying in his flat 3 months (as a visitor), then 3 months in Europe, again 3 months in his flat, 3 months in Europe...and so on. Would this kind of arrangement be a problem? My residency would be in Europe, obviously.

Thanks,
Thomas

[sundaymorningstaple]

Your question has already been answered.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/homeowner/landtit ... operty.htm

short term rental is illegal

Residential properties like apartments, flats, condominium units and landed houses are approved for residential purpose in accordance with the residential zone in the Master Plan. These residential properties or their individual rooms within the premises should not be rented out on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Such short-term occupancy, with transient occupiers, creates disturbances and inconveniences to other bona fide residents in the development. Premises that are approved for residential use are for longer term stays of 6 months or more.

You will probably be giving them something for subsistence or "gratitude" which is exactly the same thing. You might get away with it once but I wouldn't count on it. Especially now that there is strong anti-foreigner sentiment on the ground, the locals will be looking for abusers and will probably be nosey-pokers and alert the authorities. Not good.

[Tom1976]

What I meant was staying in his condo, for free, just as a visitor. He is the one paying the rent. It's a big condo.

EDIT: OK thanks. Seems weird that they allow visitors for 90 days, but then the visitor cannot decide where to stay but has to get a hotel or a Serviced Apartment.

EDIT2: so if I would fall in love with a singaporean girl, I couldn't stay with her for 6 months of the year?!?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Nope. Not without a residency visa of one type or the other as mentioned above. Tourists stay in hotels, by the way. If you had a relative here you might get away with staying the 3 months in their place as there is a legal precedence there, but a friend? Nah. Not gonna fly.

[Tom1976]

So how exactly do they check where I stay? Sounds ridiculous to me.