Renting in Singapore as a Tourist

[martincymru]

Is it possible and legal to rent an apartment on a tourist/social visa pass.

No IC of course, simply passport.

Let's say for a 1 year lease term.

I am from the UK.

[nakatago]

The FIN is required so it's illegal.

[AngMoG]

As nakatago said, it's illegal. You need a long-term pass (no tourist visa / SVP) to rent anything here. You would not even be able to STAY here for one year without a long-term pass.

[ecureilx]

Is it possible and legal to rent an apartment on a tourist/social visa pass.

No IC of course, simply passport.

Let's say for a 1 year lease term.

I am from the UK.

actually, Nakatago and AngMoG are little bit wrong ..

if you can afford, you can rent Serviced Apartments .. i know a few who were here for more than 6 months ..

I know, it is expensive ..

[JR8]

Is it possible and legal to rent an apartment on a tourist/social visa pass.
No IC of course, simply passport.
Let's say for a 1 year lease term.
I am from the UK.

Nope, plus as mentioned above you won't be allowed here as a tourist for one year. I mean tourists spend an average of 2.5 days here; you're planning on 150* as long as the average?

You might look into Serviced Apartments. You don't need residency for that. They cost more than long-term renting though. But a year on an SVP... that's got 'the elephant in the room hoisting all the red flags'.

[martincymru]

My post did NOT state the length of time I intend to spend in Singapore yet most answers suggest (wrongly) that scenario.

Notwithstanding, thanks for the straight line advice that you cannot rent a "normal" unit on a standard leasing arrangement (say 1 year + ?).

But I know a tourist from the UK who did rent a normal unit for 3 months (UK passport often allows a stay up to 90 days). Not sure precisely what type of Tenancy it was but for sure it was not a serviced apt. Is this latter scenario also illegal? What if there was no lease as such and they just stayed at a friend's house or indeed, another scenario, there was a gentleman's agreement between the tenant and landlord for 3 months?

[zzm9980]

My post did NOT state the length of time I intend to spend in Singapore yet most answers suggest (wrongly) that scenario.

Notwithstanding, thanks for the straight line advice that you cannot rent a "normal" unit on a standard leasing arrangement (say 1 year + ?).

But I know a tourist from the UK who did rent a normal unit for 3 months (UK passport often allows a stay up to 90 days). Not sure precisely what type of Tenancy it was but for sure it was not a serviced apt. Is this latter scenario also illegal? What if there was no lease as such and they just stayed at a friend's house or indeed, another scenario, there was a gentleman's agreement between the tenant and landlord for 3 months?

All of your scenarios are illegal in the eyes of the law. SMS has posted a link to the rule before I believe.

Now, It happens all of the time though of course. You can even walk around Geylang or Joo Chiat and see advertisements for such arrangements if you read Chinese or Vietnamese.

[v4jr4]

You can even walk around Geylang or Joo Chiat and see advertisements for such arrangements if you read Chinese or Vietnamese.

Or the apartments around Mount E.

[Wd40]

Ironically though, this very forum has an advertisement right on the top, as I write this, for a site called airbnb, kind of serviced rooms within apartment sharing with the owner at $50 a day.

By the way. Do Serviced Apartments need to get some kind of license from the gahmen to operate, in your private property?

BTW, There are several hotels especially the Hotel 81 chain with rents as low as $50. If you are single and eat out, this is a very viable option.

[Saint]

There was recently an article in the paper saying that short term home rentals for tourist is illegal and breaches local public and private housing rules.

Unfortunately I can only find a link on ST

[JR8]

I think it would be simpler if the OP (MartynC) laid out what the situation he or 'a friend' is faced with.

Leaving the audience to try and join the dots from hypotheticals, is probably not going to be highly productive.

Just my 2c.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Minimum lease period at least 6 months and residency permit of some form is required. (Not Social Visit Pass)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/media-room/fo ... 13-19.aspx

Takes care of Private housing.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10323p.nsf ... enDocument

Takes care of HDB

[JR8]

Letter from: 'Bruno Poh Teck Boon'

Hmmm, so high class, Swiss right?

[zzm9980]

I think it would be simpler if the OP (MartynC)

Mr Welsh OP likes to post very vague hypotheticals and then sometimes not reply for weeks. So I guess we'll be waiting a while.

Judging by his previous posts, my guess is he wanted to rent a place and use it for hopping in and out of the country on SVP while either job hunting, or working a job he's taking in the neighbor to the north or south.

[RobSg]

I visited a few hotels before I relinquished my PR and left Singapore after being here for 25+ years. That was three weeks ago. There are a number of nice hotels off the beaten track that genuinely seem nice. I asked what if I were to be there a couple two or three months as a tourist. No problem. The cost, at least at the time, was a little more than S$2000 with daily room service. That seemed reasonable, as I would like to return and keep in touch with a country I lived in for such a long time.


Rob