Living
Although Singapore is a small country, you can still enjoy a comfortable home life here.
Various Accommodation Options
Both expatriates and locals in Singapore have a strong preference for condominiums. With amenities such as swimming pools and gyms, beautiful community environments, and 24-hour security patrols, you can enjoy a comfortable life, making it particularly suitable for you and your family to live together.
Serviced apartments allow you to enjoy a convenient lifestyle. In addition to the basic facilities of condominiums, they also provide value-added services such as room cleaning, laundry, and room service.
If you prefer landed property, Singapore will not disappoint you. There is a wide variety of landed properties available, including bungalows, semi-detached houses, terrace houses, cluster houses, and townhouses.
There is also a unique type of residence—the black-and-white bungalows, which were built during the colonial period and are now owned by the Singapore government. These residences not only have good ventilation but are also spacious and bright, with many featuring double-storey designs. Although they lack any amenities, the spacious interiors and exquisite structural designs still attract many expatriates. Due to their scarcity, they are particularly sought after. For more information, please visit Premas or other websites aimed at expatriates working in Singapore.
Renting
Singapore does not impose any explicit restrictions on non-Singapore citizens renting residential properties. You can engage a real estate agent to handle the rental process.
The rental price depends on the following factors:
Location. Districts 9, 10, and 11 are popular residential areas in Singapore due to their proximity to the central business district. Additionally, waterfront residences near Marina Bay and the Sentosa Cove area are currently gaining popularity.
Size and condition of the property.
Living facilities. Condominiums with complete amenities will charge higher rents. Furthermore, the rental price varies based on the level of furnishing, with fully furnished, semi-furnished, and bare units having different rental rates.
Rental Steps:
After mutual agreement, sign a rental agreement with the landlord.
Sign an inventory list that details all items provided by the landlord and their condition.
If the rental period exceeds one year, a deposit equivalent to one month's rent or a "security deposit" is usually required.
Typically, the rent includes maintenance fees but excludes municipal utility fees.
If you plan to settle here long-term, private residences, condominiums, and landed properties are good options. Current laws and regulations impose clear restrictions on the rental period, prohibiting daily, weekly, and monthly rentals. Generally, the lease term is at least six months.
To create a good living environment, the average living space per tenant must be at least 10 square meters, and the number of occupants per unit must not exceed 8. If the landlord lives with the tenants, the number of landlords should also be included in the count.
When renting a property, be cautious if you find that the structure has been illegally modified. In Singapore, residential properties generally come equipped with basic living facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas. If the property has multiple independent small bedrooms (regardless of whether they have separate utilities) or lacks basic living facilities, it indicates that the structure has been illegally modified and has lost its original residential function.
Buying Property
If you plan to settle in Singapore long-term, consider purchasing property here. The Residential Property Act (RPA) does not impose any restrictions on non-Singapore citizens buying private apartments and condominiums. If you are interested in purchasing landed property, click here for more information.
To ensure your interests are protected, it is advisable to engage a professionally certified real estate agent to handle the property purchase. For more detailed regulations regarding the purchase of residential properties by foreigners under the Residential Property Act, please click here.
Short-term Accommodation
If you only plan to stay in Singapore briefly or have a preference for short-term accommodations, you can experience a variety of options. Singapore offers a range of short-term accommodation solutions to meet various price points and style requirements, from serviced apartments to world-class five-star hotels.
For all information regarding short-term accommodations and their reference rates, please visit the Singapore Tourism Board website.
Resolving Disputes
If you encounter issues while renting a property, it is best to contact the landlord directly to attempt a resolution, as this is a win-win approach. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, you may seek legal recourse if necessary. This will involve time and financial investment, and the outcome may be uncertain.
If you are considering legal action against the other party, the Small Claims Tribunals provide a relatively quick and low-cost way to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants within their jurisdiction.
The Small Claims Tribunals can handle residential rental cases involving amounts not exceeding SGD 10,000 and leases within two years. Claims must be filed within one year of the incident.
Before submitting a case to the Small Claims Tribunals, neither party may be represented by a lawyer. All disputes must first undergo mediation, and only if mediation fails will a court ruling be made.
