What Expats Aren’t Told About Renting Condos versus Landed Properties

Expatriate families often end up choosing between condos or landed properties. There are subtle differences between the two, that can make a big impact on your overall comfort. Here’s what many people don’t tell you:

1. Condos can provide more lifestyle spaces, even if the units are smaller

Expats often assume that landed properties mean having more space. That’s true with regard to your living room, bedrooms, and so forth. But when it comes to space for lifestyle activities, condos may actually have the upper hand.

For example, your landed property isn’t likely to have a play pool or lap pool that’s as big as a condo’s. Likewise, the playgrounds in condos can be much larger – and more elaborate – than the backyard of your landed unit. Then there’s facilities like tennis or basketball courts, which often provide more play room than your driveway. Some condos, like Parc Olympia, even sport rock-climbing walls.

This is an especially important factor if you have children. Odds are, condo facilities will provide more room for them to run around and just be kids. Unless…

2. Condo security can turn out to be a real downer

Some people will tell you that condos are better than landed properties for security; that’s because there’s a private security force patrolling the grounds.

But consider that in low-crime Singapore, the most major offence will probably be someone using the BBQ pit before a reserve booking. Or someone trying to get in when they forgot their security pass. Or someone dressed inappropriately for the pool (that can mean simply wearing shorts instead of trunks, depending on how strict security is).

You see where we’re headed with this, right? Condo “security” is often a polite term for condo regulator.

We understand the need for this of course; in communal living, we can’t have people not picking up after their dog, parking anywhere they like, etc. But our point is that the “security” you pay for is mostly there to enforce rules on you. Rules that may sometimes strike you as being idiotic (e.g. not allowing your domestic helper to use the pool, even when they’re watching your children).

Don’t be too quick to consider this a plus over landed properties.

3. Condos are supposed to have fewer pest issues, but watch those ground floor units

In general, landed properties will have more pest issues because they’re larger and often have backyards. But don’t be under the impression that condo units can’t be as bad.

In particular, you want to watch out for ground floor units. Seasonal pest issues (such as winged ants or surges in mosquito populations) affect ground floor units as badly as any landed property. And even on higher floors, condos have one major draw to pests and vermin: the garbage chute. This is the number one access point for creepy crawlies to make it into your own unit.

Another factor to consider is the proximity of living units. Condos are still high density residential housing – one unhygienic neighbour can cause a vermin problem for the entire block. That’s something you can’t fix directly – it’s not as if you can just bust into their house with two buckets of Dettol and a mop.

4. The “parked at your front gate” issue

Just ask the people who live in landed properties near Siglap Hill; you’ll get an earful about this issue. You see in some landed properties – such as those near popular eateries (or a place of worship, in the case of Siglap Hill) – road congestion is common.

Drivers unable to find parking spaces sometimes resort to parking close to – or even right in front – of your front gate. And while the traffic police will certainly fine these drivers if you call, it doesn’t address the immediate problem: you can’t go out (sometimes for hours) because an inconsiderate person has barricaded you in with their car.

This isn’t an issue condo-dwellers have to deal with, ever.

5. Condos are supposedly more noisy, but that depends on your neighbours.

How noisy your place is depends on your neighbours, more than your property type.

If you have neighbours whose idea of a quiet party is blasting EDM at midnight, then it doesn’t matter whether you’re in a condo or a landed property; you’re not getting any sleep till you call the police. But here’s something not often said: this can be harder to deal with on a landed property than in a condo.

First, a condo has a security force (see point 2). They can be at your neighbour’s door to holler at them in an instant, probably even without your bidding. This is a faster response than the police. And if your neighbour turns up the volume again, well, security is there all night. The police take a while to come back around.

Second, landed properties have room for bigger parties. Think about that for a moment: if the noise is bad in a 1,400 square foot unit, imagine the noise when there’s a whole driveway and backyard that can also be packed with drunk cretins.

Third, in a condo, disruptive parties get ganged up on by multiple residents. In a landed property situation, it’s often just you or your family trying to face down a massive party.

So take the various cliches with a heaping tablespoon of salt

Don’t just buy into common cliches like “landed properties are quieter”. Take a close look at each specific property and the conditions it’s in, before you rent.

Would you pick a landed property or a condo to rent? Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page.

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