3 month rent

[jonathanfisher1]

I am moving to Singapore in August. I will be working as a teacher at a an International School. The information the school has sent me suggests that I will need 3 months rent in order to get an apartment. Does anyone know whether this is a deposit or three month advanced rent so that I wouldn't have to pay rent for the next three months, or is it a bit of both.

[AngMoG]

It can be up to 4 months rent actually, depends also on you. But you can get by with two months rent.
- If you rent for one year, you will pay 1 month deposit + 1st month advance rent
- If you rent for two years, you will pay 2 months deposit + 1st month advance rent
- If you engage an agent to represent you, you will also need to pay him 1/2 the deposit as a fee. Note: if the agent is the advertiser, he is generally representing the landlord and you don't have to pay him.

If you rent a whole apartment, add to this 500 SGD deposit for the PUB. There is also a stamping fee to pay, but that does not make much a difference anymore after paying everything else.

[zzm9980]

- If you engage an agent to represent you, you will also need to pay him 1/2 the deposit as a fee. Note: if the agent is the advertiser, he is generally representing the landlord and you don't have to pay him.

Note that you do not *need* an agent, and their price is 100% negotiable. They will strongly insist what Angmog said is the standard, but it's not required. It's just what they want you to pay.

[AngMoG]

^^ This. Should have mentioned that as well; the agent fee is negotiable, but many will insist on the 1/2 deposit.

Personally, I have never engaged an agent from my end, though I did end up paying for one when the "double dipping" was still legal. If you have the time to look for a place yourself, you do not need to engage an agent on your end.

[singapore eagle]

I don't really understand the local practice of engaging an agent to act for you as the tenant/buyer.

Most landlord-side agents will be advertising in the obvious places online and in print. You just need to check the websites and buy the Saturday paper.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Often those ads are placed by agents on the hope of getting an opportunity to show the property and then tell you that it is no longer available but they have others to show you. Be vary careful when calling up adverts and be sure to ask if they are the owners agent. If they say yes be sure to indicate that you will NOT be using any agents from your side and will NOT pay any agents commission. Otherwise they may well try to co-broke on you.

[Vidatrix]

- If you engage an agent to represent you, you will also need to pay him 1/2 the deposit as a fee. Note: if the agent is the advertiser, he is generally representing the landlord and you don't have to pay him.

Note that you do not *need* an agent, and their price is 100% negotiable. They will strongly insist what Angmog said is the standard, but it's not required. It's just what they want you to pay.

I am a newbie in Singapore too and I negotiated my rent while still in my home country. I found out that you don't need an agent to represent you and you can go directly to the agents that represent the landlord on websites so you don't have to pay any sort of agent fee.