Looking for somewhere to live

[naylera]

Hi Expats

I am looking for accomodation with a maximum rental of S$5000 per month. Short term rental is proving difficult. I would prefer a 2 bed condo but sites I have searched on state minium 6 months for short term.

I've viewed a few Serviced Apartments close to the centre, very nice but all very expensive!

Are there any reasonably priced outside of the city, perhaps Clementi or Buona Vista or East Beach?

Any advice, pointers appreciated. Or if anyone has a place they would like to rent out or know of someone who wants to on a monthly basis?

Thanks
Andrea

[JR8]

What visa are you going to be on?

[naylera]

[quote="JR8"]What visa are you going to be on?[/quote]

Hi JR8,

Currently have a 90 day visa, ep yet to be established. Does this cause a problem?


Andrea

[JR8]

What visa are you going to be on?

Hi JR8,
Currently have a 90 day visa, ep yet to be established. Does this cause a problem?
Andrea

Hi,

Yes it does in a way. In that you cannot enter into a Tenancy Agreement without having residency. So hotel or Serviced Apartment is ok if you're on an SVP, but no private rental.

I think this is one of the major hurdles to running a DIY job campaign on the ground in Singapore you are likely to rack up one heck of a hotel bill. You could consider alternatives, 'camping out' (although I do mean in a hotel!) in Tioman, Bali or Phuket etc, and flying up to SG for a couple of days a week to SG for interviews. Don't know, the $ burn-rate might be lower and the environs more pleasant.

[nutnut]

LMB housing have a few apartments, the cost may be within your budget, they do a lot of advertising on this site. Their availability is sometimes not so good though.

good luck.

[naylera]

[quote="nutnut"]LMB housing have a few apartments, the cost may be within your budget, they do a lot of advertising on this site. Their availability is sometimes not so good though.

good luck.[/quote]

Thanks JR8

Yes I have looked into this for serviced only, they are very full.

Andrea

[macaroonie]

What about YMCA, that's about $3k per month

[JR8]

Thanks JR8
Yes I have looked into this for serviced only, they are very full.
Andrea

Ok I'll put it another way You cannot legally rent a private apartment without resident status.

[naylera]

Oh dear! JR8 - Erm do you have any links on the internet where I can read and understand the restrictions?
Andrea

[JR8]

Oh dear! JR8 - Erm do you have any links on the internet where I can read and understand the restrictions?
Andrea

Hi Andrea,
I'm afraid I'm having a complete mental block on it right now, maybe someone else can help!? If not we could raise the question in a fresh topic, that tends to garner attention.

I suppose the logic is that if you could rent property without residency, then a lot of locals would be sub-letting short-term rooms to tourists (also illegal).

Something in my memory is saying a change to the law happened c.3-4 years ago that caused this requirement. But for the life of me I can't remember now...

[naylera]

Hi JR8

No worries, I've found this site: ica.gov.sg which might be useful.

I was speaking to a sales agent today who said about the same as you. Landlords can be heavily fined for renting to people without ep. It make's total sense and I'm not complaining it is good for a country to control. I just wanted to understand what position I am in.

I also heard once paperwork submitted correctly it can take about 7 days to get an ep.

I'm going to start looking at condos presuming it won't be long before the ep is processed.

Andrea

[JR8]

Hi JR8

No worries, I've found this site: ica.gov.sg which might be useful.

Useful for immigration info, but not the rules for private renting (I suspect!).

I was speaking to a sales agent today who said about the same as you.

Good, glad it's not just me

Landlords can be heavily fined for renting to people without ep. It make's total sense and I'm not complaining it is good for a country to control. I just wanted to understand what position I am in.

Yep, I understand. It's not just an EP that suffices. I rented last time and I was on an LTVP.

I also heard once paperwork submitted correctly it can take about 7 days to get an ep.

It's been so long since I had an EP I don't recall. SGn govt admin tends to be speedy though!

I'm going to start looking at condos presuming it won't be long before the ep is processed.
Andrea

Good luck with that. Maybe one of the letting 'gurus' will pass by and refresh us on the residency requirement? Oh WTH, I'm not going to wait, I'll ask the question in a new topic!

Edit: p.s. Q asked here...
http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic ... highlight=

[naylera]

Hi JR8
Saw your post, thank you. It does clarify the situation a little better, an EP to be safe. I'm still not sure on renting condos, possibly a dodgy landloard...
Spoke to someone at MOM today. Seems according to the lady I sopke to that anyone doing any business what so ever needs an EP. I am sure that is not what most of the suits I see around have done.
I am no further forward with finding a place to stay or investigating his ep requirements.
One agent said there are no Serviced Apartments outside the centre! I saw one on Alexandra road but it was far too small and very pricy.

I will search the forum for EP info...
Andrea

[sundaymorningstaple]

To solve all the hemming & hawing, here it is from the horses mouth.

You cannot rent private housing/rooms either without a residency visa either (residency visa means ltvp, ep, s, wp, student etc). (it's illegal for an owner to rent out any portion of their private home for periods of less than 6 months. As the maximum period that a svp will last is 90 days, then that's it.

Here it is from URA:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/dcu/definition_example2.html

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.

[zzm9980]

To solve all the hemming & hawing, here it is from the horses mouth.

You cannot rent private housing/rooms either without a residency visa either (residency visa means ltvp, ep, s, wp, student etc). (it's illegal for an owner to rent out any portion of their private home for periods of less than 6 months. As the maximum period that a svp will last is 90 days, then that's it.

Here it is from URA:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/dcu/definition_example2.html

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.

Wow. I don't know why after being here this long that their rational shocks me, and but it does. I can just hear in my head the voice of some aunty whining about neighbors going in and out of their rented flat too often :p