My Long Story of Renting A Place in Tiny Singapore

Ha… I finally got my own place. How exciting!

Well I wasn’t meant to write about the result of getting my own place or anything like that. I wanted to write about my complaints regarding the process of renting an apartment in Singapore, but it is just taking me ages to complete such complaint because I don’t even know where or how to start in the first place. And it has been a desire to write about it until I finally found my own place just last evening. Then again, I still have the drive to write it down as a blog post as I would like to be reminded of my thoughts with regards to the things I came across while in search of an apartment in Singapore. So here it goes…

My first search was a HDB apartment close to the city. It was expensive (S$950 per month for a tiny apartment with no stove), terribly furnished, and in an old estate. And because it is in an old estate, the surrounding was pretty dirty and cramped, and most of the residents in the estate were of the older generation. I didn’t like it at all. But the agent who showed around was pretty nice so she was kind of OK with me not liking it.

My second search was also a HDB apartment, but slightly more spacious than the previous one that I saw. The apartment was totally unfurnished though very clean and according to the agent no one has lived there before. The apartment was good despite the fact that it was on the 2nd storey, and price was quite OK although I would prefer if the cost of rental was lower. But the main drive to reject this apartment was the agent who brought me to the place for I found him very rude and pushy. His aggressive approach in getting me to sign the rental contract right away just so convinced me that he is not trustable and that he was there to cheat me. I could picture him running away with my money. Ewww… I quickly forget about renting the place then.

The next one was very memorable as after that I started looking into another direction. I started looking for private apartments after: -

1. I found out that the agent for this unit I was looking at wasn’t being honest with me with regards to the fact that the flat was not approved for rental by the government and therefore the owner chose to go with locking of one bedroom door as a method to deceive the HDB officials. *locking of one bedroom door is supposed to mean that the owner is living with the tenants*
2. I realized that I have to sign a room rental contract instead of a unit rental one
3. So many things in that flat needed to be fixed – although the agent told me that all fixing can be done, but I doubted the quality of the work because some things that required fixing are expensive, and that I suspected the owner himself is in need of money which was why he rented out his place. So I don’t believe that fixing can be done. Even if it could, I believe it would be done with less care and quality
4. the unit wasn’t well taken care of, and was quite dirty
5. I found out that re-painting of the unit was done by the agent renting out that unit instead of the owner or professional painters, and when I questioned the agent why he was the one who painted the place, he couldn’t give me an answer that convinces me of its rationality. This also makes me question the relationship between the agent and the owner. In addition, the owner too appears as if he does not know much about the things that have been going on at his place, or probably he just doesn't bother getting himself involved with renting out of his place and prefers leaving everything to the agent [which is a bad thing]
6. I found out that there have been complaints from neighbors about previous tenants who were construction workers, so the unit basically had a bad reputation amongst neighbors by then
7. I studied the rental contract and I didn’t like it. It was very one-sided, which means, the contract was generally in support of the owner, and the only role the owner has to play by agreement to the tenant was to not enter the unit as long as there is a tenant without letting the tenant know in advance.
8. The unit wasn’t conveniently located
9. There were suddenly agents representing me when I didn’t even ask for one. And then that same agent (representing me) got really pushy over my decision-making, tried hard to get me to sign the contract. Then told me I should continue using their service since I have already started using them. What the ****, i thought

So there were arguments. I questioned them thoroughly and then they stopped contacting me. So that was good news.

So I started looking for private apartments then. I searched to rent a whole unit of a condominium (Singapore version of high-rise private apartments) and the least expensive that I saw cost about S$1.6k per month. It was still kind of OK I thought, even though it had gone slightly beyond budget. But the price of rental for this one does make sense as this apartment comes with a pool, gym, salon, convenient store, security and other facilities. Besides the unit is also nicely and fully-furnished. Rental of a unit also comes in a choice of long or short term, so that was good since I have yet any intention of buying a place. Also because I might return to living abroad some time in the near future. So thumbs up for private apartments!

But just like its counterparts, all other private apartments, to me, are not quite conveniently located so I had to wait and look around for more before considering. In addition there are some aspects of private apartments that I do not quite like. For example, not all units are close to the entrance of a property so depending on which block one is staying, one has to make a big round before arriving at its entrance, vice-versa.

So it got me a bit confused with the loads of HDB flats that are available but one whose system sucks! And the many condominiums that may have better rental system, but whose price goes beyond budget a bit and not quite conveniently located. I just thought I should get myself focused and therefore thought I should quit looking into HDB flats anymore. The last experience on a HDB unit was heartbreaking anyways.

But just before I close my doors to HDB flats, this guy let me know of a flat he thought I might be interested in. I met the agent last evening. He appeared OK and nice, though I leave myself about 30% of doubt and suspicion on him, as I am after all a risk-adverse person! I went to see the place and met the tenants. They were Aussies. It was fun chatting with them. There was a sudden bond with the tenants, I felt. It was refreshing to meet Aussies and it just reminded me – I just can’t wait to see some Aussie friends who are coming around very soon!

Anyway, the place itself was spacious, good price, clean, cozy, has a great view, convenient, and nicely and fully furnished. What more could I ask for??!! So I agreed with renting the place.

Things were so much better after that. I left for home happy and relieved. I just couldn’t wait to tell my parents about it.

As of now, I just can’t wait to move out. I’m so looking forward to having my own place and being independent once again. Ha, how exciting!