Badly Need Advice of all of you

[parivinu]

Hi All,
need Advice on what I am supposed to do..

We rented a house near Singapore central. shifted a month back . since we have been telling owner about our problems in the house like toilet flush is not working, AC is not working, TAP is not working. he is not listening to any of the problems. every time he says one or the other problem. finally he said he is having health problem and hospitalized. And also he is messaging us like he is having problem and he needs money and asking us for advance rental payment. on other hand financial companies coming home asking for that guy about the loan payment . in the last one month , we got around 5 to 6 letters from different financial companies..they are also warning that they will take legal actions if he does not pay and all.. we have told all these things to him to collect the letters. he did not respond.. finally he said they are uneducated and we will comaplain to police . i dont have any loan payments anything.. he is just bluffing at each and every stage I feel.. we got it thru net posted the ad by the previous tenant and that tenant said, since his project getting closed and moving to india, he has to vacate the house. but now he is in another house with his family.. I am just wondering about all these things...

we still have not got out stamped paper to say that we are tenants in that house.... Please let me know the procedure to get the same.. how we can be sure that It is his house only..

and also there are totally 3 rooms. he said on mutual agreemnt , if some one comes and ask u tell them that in another room owner is staying.. even the agreement is also like that..

[Saint]

So you are actually renting a HDB which hasn't got the legal approval from HDB that it can be rented out by the owner. What does the agent say about this? Or I'm guessing you went direct to owner?

[AngMoG]

Tricky one... I think may be one of those cases where it is best to just walk away and take it as "lesson learnt". Take care to follow the legal process, though. Give him an ultimatum that by end of the first month of renting, all these things have to be fixed (or within one week, whichever is later), otherwise propose to move out with your deposit returned in full by end of the rent month, or whatever time you agree on. Definitely, you should not pay any advance rent outside of your usual rental payment agreement. IMO, you should also be within your rights to move out if the unit is basically in unliveable condition, or if severe shortcomings are not fixed, but make sure to do it legally.

Make sure to get all agreements in writing! Above should be sent to the owner by registered mail.

Many of those things should have been obvious when viewing the unit - I hope next time you look at the unit more thoroughly before renting. Also, next time, get the HDB stamping done before moving in, as it should be.

[Wd40]

This is a very common case. I know couple of friends who got into shit like this. Basically landlord in debt and recovery guys banging at your door.

Since the house is not legally rented out to you and that he is in debt trouble he is unlikely to pursue any legal action against you. Best thing to get out of this mess, you will most likely not get your deposit anyway. So just cut losses and find a better place.

Usual bait by such landlords is rent lower than market price and some of them actually set is very low and then in order to compensate ask for multiple months rental as deposit. If you have fallen for something like this you are doomed.

[PNGMK]

This is a very common case. I know couple of friends who got into shit like this. Basically landlord in debt and recovery guys banging at your door.

Since the house is not legally rented out to you and that he is in debt trouble he is unlikely to pursue any legal action against you. Best thing to get out of this mess, you will most likely not get your deposit anyway. So just cut losses and find a better place.

Usual bait by such landlords is rent lower than market price and some of them actually set is very low and then in order to compensate ask for multiple months rental as deposit. If you have fallen for something like this you are doomed.

I would actually over stay for free.... (until kicked out).

[x9200]

Maybe not for free but until it absorbs the deposit.

[Dert42]

"I would actually over stay for free.... (until kicked out)."

Ditto. He's trying to screw you, screw him back.
If he's in financial troubles, he's unlikley to persue anything legally, plus it sounds like you're not even staying there legally, so he has nothing to go on.

Stay til your deposit money is recovered without paying anything additional then walk away with a flock of birds in the air.

[katbh]

^+1
As above. You do not have a lease. Do not pay landlord any more money. Until you have absorbed your bond ie. if you have 1 month bond, then do not pay rent for one month. Then pay only week to week until the lease is sorted out and until it is stamped... and until the threats to you have stopped.
Do not pay more than one week at at time.
I doubt if your lease can be stamped (due to illegal letting) so you do not have a valid lease.
If you need to get repairs done, tell the landlord that you are having them done yourself and you will deduct from rent. As you do not have a valid lease, this is not forbidden.
Put a notice on your door stating that the person named 'XXXX' is not resident in this apartment - but watch out, this will be a flag to the HDB for illegal letting. But it will save you some trouble in the mean time.
You will not be the one in trouble with the HDB, your landlord will. Just watch your back with your finances.
You can not get your lease stamped until you have HDB approval. If you are worried, call HDB and ask if it is approved. But this will flag it with them and they will check up on you. I suggest it is not approved and he and you will be given notice by HDB. So keep your money in case you need to move out quickly.

[ecureilx]

"I would actually over stay for free.... (until kicked out)."

Ditto. He's trying to screw you, screw him back.
If he's in financial troubles, he's unlikley to persue anything legally, plus it sounds like you're not even staying there legally, so he has nothing to go on.

Stay til your deposit money is recovered without paying anything additional then walk away with a flock of birds in the air.

and if he keeps asking for rent, when you are covering your deposit period, don't go into legal mumbo jumbo .. just tell him "my company pay is delayed, we will get paid next month together .. " etc. etc.. like that to drag and pack your stuff off

most of the times, if you try to tell the landlord (as happened to me once when I was jobless but the landlord insisted I fulfil the terms of the agreement .. ) getting legal will make the landlord go ballistic .. or start worse drama

best is to smile, and act sweet, and treat him for a coffee, etc. and insist you have all intention of making your deposit worth for the landlord to return, but, just hold on till your company clear up your salary mess .. or something like that ..

[katbh]

^ well said.
Just act local. People here rarely say 'no'. They will either ignore you or say 'can' but then not do.
So just string him on in hope that you can avoid confrontation.
Keep your money that you would otherwise be paying him. Keep it for if and when the lease is approved and signed - and then pay it to him in one hit to show your bona-fides

[Wd40]

Yeah, thats a good idea. Dont pay the rent for the next month and then just get out.Having debtors banging at your door isn't a nice thing. Soon it could turn to paint splashed on the door or the door locked from outside with a cycle lock, letter box jammed etc.

[parivinu]

Thanks everyone for all your valuable replies..

that is a nice idea.. that is what I am thinking..we have paid 3 months advance rental since he we bargained the rent and he said he will give concession if we pay him 3 months advance rental..

we want to play safe and act sweet.. and also he said PUB bills 224$ where we came just a month ago.. just wondering how come it is so much where it includes gas+water+power where we dont even use AC since AC is not working.. We asked for the bills he was telling "you pay first and then will issue the receipt and bills". he was pressurizing so finally we paid..

Now we thought if he is the owner he cant do anything since he is already getting lots of ppl coming home and telling that they would take legal action against him..that is first point
second point is legally he is not supposed to rent a house where one room being locked..
third point is he is in need of money and he cant just let us go..

we liked the house very much.. and the spot is also is nice and near to our office.. so
what my husband and I thought, Lets not pay him rent for another 3 months and lets not pay PUB bills.. let him do.. if he asks then we would tell as you guys suggested "we still have not got our pay". now let us play the game

what do u guys think shal we go for stamping the paper or not ??

[parivinu]

btw, I want to know if he is the real owner of the house... how do we know about it ?

[parivinu]

what is meant by Commercial & Specialist Crime ?

I was just googling and found the landlord name into this list

[katbh]

Not sure of the context of your search but usually such a description is for fraud, cheating etc
Be careful.