Tenants, here’s an effective 7-step plan to negotiate rent in SG

Tenants, if there is anything that you need to know before you rent, it’s this: rental rates are always negotiable. Not only is nothing set in stone, negotiation margins—the difference between asking price and the price the landlord will accept—can be rather large, so it’s worth your while to negotiate before making your offer.

In a previous post, we have already outlined the pros and cons of getting a Tenant’s Agent to help you out in your hunt for a rented home. Especially if you’re renting an entire unit, a capable, professional and knowledgeable agent can be invaluable in assisting you in getting a better deal. If you still decide to go down the negotiations path yourself, then this guide is for you:

Negotiating rent step #1: Research rental prices and trends

Be it the landlord’s agent or the actual landlord, the person you’ll be negotiating with will probably know all about current rental property market trends and rates.

To level the playing field, you should know this information as well. There are a variety of ways to go about this, but you can view past rental transaction prices and price trend for properties on the 99.co property portal whenever you view a listing. Recent rentals in the same area or condo will give you a good sign of the going rate, as well as whether prices have been trending up or down for a area.

If you’re renting a private property, the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) publishes quarterly reports that shed light on which direction rental prices have been moving overall. You can access the report for Q3 2020 here.

If you’re renting a HDB flat, you can also check out general prices for each apartment type for each town here. This will give you a good gauge to see where you can afford to rent in.

(Are two locations fetching the same rental rates? If you will put in more effort, consider visiting the neighbourhoods prior to your viewing to get a better idea of what suits you better. It could be the vibe of the place, or amenities such as cheap food.)

Negotiating rent step #2: Know your bargaining position

While the prices and price trend differ between neighbourhoods and between different developments within the same neighbourhood, the general trend in Singapore has been that rental supply is higher than demand. Especially because of Covid-19, the market is clearly in a tenant’s market and your bargaining position is good.

When the rental market is in an upswing and landlords find their properties are hotly contested by prospective tenants, they will have the power to pit prospective tenants against each other and request higher rent. If, however, the rental market is sluggish and property risks being vacant, landlords will have to be more accommodating and settle for lower rent.

Your homework informs you about the state of the rental market, whether the unit/development in question is popular, and whether your bargaining position is favourable. When you’re equipped, no landlord or agent will be able to unscrupulously lease you a $1,100/month room for $1,400, for instance. The important thing is that you won’t be fleeced.

Negotiating rent step #3: Play hard-to-get

Homework and an analysis of your bargaining position can only bring you so far. Your remarks, body language, and facial expression when you view a property can make or break your negotiation game.

So, it’s time to put on your best game face (while staying friendly and polite). Before and during your viewing, do not give away how much you love and want to rent the unit or how much you are really willing to pay for it, even though you may get great vibes.

Landlords know that the more you show your love and excitement for the apartment, the firmer he/she can be when negotiating with you. So, don’t undermine your advantage; keep a game face (also known as ‘poker face’) and don’t start name your price until the viewing is concluded.

Here’s what to do during the viewing, regardless of whether you like the place:

1. Ask all the basic questions (such as location, utilities, last maintenance, condo facilities, and policy)
2. Don’t reveal you have your own furniture when viewing a unfurnished or partially furnished unit
3. Ask the landlord’s asking price (even if you’ve already seen it on the listing)
4. Ask if it’s negotiable (even if it already looks a good deal)
5. Regardless of their reply, say you’ll take time to consider before deciding whether to make an offer. Do not make an offer on the spot.
6. Mention you have another property to view in the same area after the current one.

Negotiating rent step #4: Get into the good books of the landlord’s agent

While viewing the property, it’s also a good idea to engage the landlord’s agent in conversation. Drop hints you’ll be a responsible tenant (such as asking if cleaning equipment is provided) and, if you’re renting a room, ask about noise levels and the profile of other tenants as you prefer a peaceful and quiet environment.

Why build rapport with the landlord’s agent? Well, when you put the landlord’s agent at ease by showing that you are a reliable and trouble-free tenant, he/she will be more inclined to vouch for you to the client as the preferred tenant choice. They want to close the deal, after all, and getting in their good books could give you the edge versus competing offers at the same rent.

From speaking to property agents, we understand that it’s common for a landlord to accept a slightly lower offer just because they like the tenant better!

Negotiating rent step #5: Pay attention to the landlord’s next moves

If you really like the apartment and built a rapport with the landlord’s agent or the landlord in a short space of time, you can now appear interested, but not too interested. Mention how much you like the apartment, but remember to mention that you’ll be weighing your options between a few candidates.

If the good vibes are mutual, the landlord or his/her agent will respond by reiterating the benefits of this unit you’re viewing. That’s when you know that you have the bargaining power on your side. The landlord could even be willing to slightly lower his/her minimum acceptable offer, just for you.

Negotiating rent step #6: Play around with the variables

After the viewing, when not in the landlord’s presence, you should be able to state your intended offer price.

Before you do so, remember it’s not all about money. During offer and negotiation, you may suggest experimenting with how utilities and furniture are incorporated as part of the eventual Tenancy Agreement (TA). For instance, if you intended to bring in or buy your own furniture anyway, say that you’re wondering if the landlord can lower the price further than furnishing and certain appliances are not needed.

If the landlord appears unwilling to lower the rent beyond a certain amount, you may also ask that the unit come with specific furniture as part of the rental. In such cases, landlords are inclined to say yes because the supplied furniture can be used for subsequent tenants.

Negotiating rent step #7: Use that ace up your sleeve

Unless you got a fantastic deal right away, take some time to mull it over at home before agreeing to sign the Letter of Intent (LOI), which is a preliminary non-legally binding document outlining to the tenant key terms of the TA prior to signing the TA proper.

Doing so gives not only you some time to genuinely think it over, but it also puts you in the position to deal your last cards of the game. If any revised asking price is still too high for your liking, call up the agent and say that you’re undecided between two units and ask whether the landlord can quote a final price, while mentioning the price you have in mind having done your homework.

This is the final round of negotiation. If the lowered rental gets within an acceptable range of the price, you have in mind, together with the terms you want, it is time to make a final offer and seal that deal. 

The negotiating master — kind of.

The above 7 steps goes to show one thing: doing your homework is about half the battle won. Not only does it prevent nasty surprises, it gives you leverage for later negotiation, for example: “I know that the landlord is not including utilities as part of the rent, but a neighbouring tenant I’ve spoken to is paying a similar price with all utilities inclusive. Might the landlord be willing to reconsider?” 

While we won’t all turn into top-notch salesmen or world-class negotiator overnight, we can take these best practices and help us secure a competitive rental rate for our next home!

Have other rent negotiation tips? Share them with us in the comments below!

If you found this article helpful, 99.co recommends Renting on a budget: What you need to know and How much income should you spend on rent in Singapore?

Ready to find the home you’ll love? Go to 99.co!