5 types of crazy landlords renters will encounter in Singapore

So you want to rent a house in Singapore. Congratulations on entering what is one of the most bizarre housing markets in the world – this is one of the few states where the entire country is one city (which means housing is crowded and expensive), and there is over 90 percent home ownership despite being one of the world’s most expensive property markets. Just about everyone you see could be a prospective landlord.

Lucky for you, crazy landlords break into some easy archetypes. Know who you’re dealing with:

1. The puzzle game landlord

Have you ever watched those shows where a group of people are trapped in a strange cube, or a circle, and have a limited time to figure out the rules? That’s what having these kinds of crazy landlords are like.

Everything seems fine when you first meet them. They may even seem to lay out some clear rules. But as the months go by, you will realise the rules are mutable, and require a lot of creative interpretation.

For example: the rule “don’t cook in the kitchen” could also translate to “don’t do your laundry in that spot at the back of the kitchen”, even if that’s where the washing machine is. And should you be caught doing your laundry there, expect weeks of complaining.

Now, how could you have realised “not cooking” also meant not doing laundry? We don’t know! It’s a mystery. Everything is with this landlord.

Over time, you will also start to realise some things that are against the rules become okay. Not supposed to have people in after 11 o’clock? At some point the landlord will swoop in, pat you on the back, and go “you young people need to have your fun, stay longer it won’t disturb me”. But at the same time, another rule changes; like it’s suddenly not okay to listen to music in your room without headphones (no matter the volume).

Following the rules is like juggling on rollerblades. You need to keep compensating, and it gets exhausting.

What to do about it:

Ask before you do everything. Yes, that’s inconvenient; it doesn’t escape us. But because these landlords are typically unsure of what they actually want, the safest thing to do is keep asking. Even if they said at some point you can shoot your student movie in the house, just ask again before doing it (in case they’ve changed their mind).

The upside of these crazy landlords is that, because they’re wavering, everything is negotiable. Even “hard” rules can usually be bent a little, if you are persuasive enough.

2. The landlord who thinks you’re their maid

These crazy landlords could be some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. So you won’t mind doing them a little favour, like climbing on the table to screw in a lightbulb. And then maybe helping to mop the floor. And then going downstairs to buy a birthday cake for their friend’s party. And then taking the train to Takashimaya, to exchange their wrong sized clothes. And then…you get the idea.

These crazy landlords will take full advantage of your good nature, and pile on requests that go beyond simple maintenance. Some of the truly cunning ones will guilt trip you – they’ll let you get away with the occasional late payment, or even take you out for meals. But they will remind you of it forever when they need a favour.

You’re like family. *Thunderclap*

What to do about it:

These types of crazy landlords are fine if you don’t have to live with them. But if they’re there all the time (you’re renting out a room), you have two options: either learn to say no to them, or move out. The more awkward you feel about refusals, the less you can handle this kind of landlord.

As an aside, try not to give them any opportunity to guilt trip you. Turn down any freebies. If you do find yourself living with your landlord, here are some other problems you might encounter.

3. The security deposit hoarder

This landlord seems normal in every way, except when it’s time to repay the security deposit. Whenever your security deposit is due, his printer will break down. His phone will get lost, his email will have configuration issues, and any Singpost will become 600 percent less efficient at delivering your cheque.

In extreme cases, you will suddenly discover you broke something (despite the landlord inspecting the house, and formerly declaring everything was in order). This is an excuse to not return the security deposit.

The insidious part is that you can’t tell when you have one of these landlords; not until it’s much too late.

What to do about it:

Sadly, these kinds of crazy landlords are more commonly encountered than usual, so the best option is to ensure that clauses protecting your rights as a tenant are written in the tenancy agreement. if things to go out of hand, you can also approach the small claims tribunal, on the provision you do have evidence to support your claim against the landlord.

Google the unit and landlord before you rent. These types attract a lot of complaints, so you’ll often see the property or landlord’s name appear on a forum. You can also get help from your property agent (if you hired one).

If you’re worried about this sort of thing though, the best solution is to get an unfurnished unit. The more furniture you see, the more things you can be caught “breaking”.

4. The invisible landlord

Here’s the upside: these kinds of crazy landlords will never trouble you. They will never be around to do any spot checks, or give you new rules to follow. In fact, you may not even know their face at all; the entire transaction may happen through their agent.

Most tenants like this kind of landlord, but there’s just one problem. Should the plumbing break, or the air-conditioner not be working, don’t expect repairs anytime soon. Any attempt to contact this landlord will be delayed for days, before you get a reluctant callback. Even then, your unit fixes may be put off or ignored, to the point where you’re seriously considering moving to Hotel 81 for a few days.

In unfortunate cases, the invisible landlord may also become a security deposit hoarder (see point 3).

What to do about it:

You’re going to have to create some sense of urgency.

Point out that you’re going to move as living conditions are unbearable. Or use our favourite: claim that a particular problem, such as a leak, is getting worse and damaging other parts of the property (like the wooden flooring). You probably won’t have to lie about this part; most of the time you’ll find this to be true. This will often be enough to panic the invisible landlord into re-appearing.

Whatever the case, do not risk breaking things by trying to do your own repairs, or paying your own repair person. There’s a good chance you won’t be reimbursed for any expert help you hire.

5. The squabbling council of crazy landlords

This is when more than one family member is involved in renting out the property. Rather than deal with one landlord, you will also find yourself dealing with the landlord’s son, wife, mother-in-law, and so forth. In some cases, they will all have contradictory rules about what you can or can’t do.

Communicating with this “council of landlords” is like something out of a Kafka novel. You’ll often have to contact multiple people about issues, such as a broken water heater. You may even find their accounts are a shambles, with everybody trying to play accountant – don’t be surprised if each person disagrees on whether you’ve paid the rent.

In unfortunate cases, one or two family members may be downright unreasonable. But you’ll have to deal with them along with all the others.

What to do about it:

Do not, under any circumstance, live under the same roof as all of them. Human sanity has its limits, and your don’t want to have to discover yours. Go find somewhere else to stay.

If you don’t have to live with them, it’s somewhat more bearable. Make it clear that you will have just one point of contact, and choose the person you think is most reasonable. Even if all of them try to talk to you at once, direct all your messages and emails toward one person – make it clear you are not going to entertain anyone else.

Also be sure to keep track of all payments and agreements in writing. You’ll want to be able to challenge conflicting accounts, if things go wrong.

Check out other rental related articles here: The MRT Rental Map and Renters now enjoy cheap rental prices in Singapore – here’s why

Find the rental home of your dreams today at Singapore’s largest property portal 99.co!