{"id":51082,"date":"2022-05-05T17:22:25","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T09:22:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/?p=51082"},"modified":"2022-06-13T18:11:56","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T10:11:56","slug":"rental-tenancy-agreement-singapore-5-things-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/rental-tenancy-agreement-singapore-5-things-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Rental tenancy agreement in Singapore \u2013 5 things you must know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On paper, renting an apartment seems straightforward enough. You view a property within your budget that you like, you sign the tenancy agreement, and you move in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Simple, right? Well, not quite. There are many horror stories from tenants who were forcibly evicted by nightmare landlords, and it seems a new case surfaces every couple of months.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">HDB rental policy loophole<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kiasuparents.com\/kiasu\/forum\/viewtopic.php?f=47&amp;t=13475&amp;start=2320\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">scenario<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, a tenant signed a three-year tenancy agreement on a 5-room flat for S$2,600 a month. With just eight months left on the lease, the landlord (who was also the property agent representing the unit) went nuclear and forcibly evicted the tenant by acquiring a HDB letter terminating approval to rent out the entire unit citing that she wanted to move back into the flat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rental-case.jpg\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51083\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rental-case.jpg\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rental-case.jpg 1076w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/rental-case-150x154.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">She successfully evicted them with the letter in hand as well as the police and locksmith in tow. A week later, the same unit went up again for rent, with an asking price of S$4,000 per month &#8211; <em>a 53% increase from the original asking price<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s not the worst part. The landlord refused to return her tenant\u2019s three-month deposit of S$7,800, claiming the kitchen tiles were chipped and needed to be hacked and re-tiled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, it was only two weeks between receiving HDB\u2019s termination letter and having the unit posted up for rent again. This means the landlord never had the intention to renovate or stay in the unit at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chipped-kitchen-tiles.jpg\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51084\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chipped-kitchen-tiles.jpg\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chipped-kitchen-tiles.jpg 1026w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/chipped-kitchen-tiles-150x59.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Despite efforts to seek help from HDB, they allegedly told the tenant to seek out a lawyer\u2019s help. The lawyer said that the only way to settle the dispute was to take it to court, which most tenants would baulk at the cost of a court case would be way more than getting the deposit back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Breach of rules from the get-go<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here\u2019s the kicker. The tenant is neither a Malaysian nor Singaporean but a foreign healthcare worker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For the uninitiated, the maximum period of occupancy for a HDB flat or room is a maximum period of three years if all tenants are Singaporeans or Malaysians. For everyone else, the maximum rental period is two years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The landlord had already breached the tenancy rules before the tenancy even commenced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to the tenant, the previous group of tenants were foreign students who experienced the same treatment. Their tenancy was terminated halfway through the tenancy, with their belongings dumped unceremoniously along the corridor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/students.png\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51085\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/students.png\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"62\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/students.png 1540w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/students-1536x160.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/students-150x16.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Since the tenancy agreement was longer than two years, the tenant couldn\u2019t bring the case to Small Claims Tribunal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The tenant then brought the matter to a lawyer, who told them it would take between S$5,000 to S$8,000 to fight the case. Even if the court ruled in the tenant\u2019s favour, the landlord could still drag her feet to pay back the deposit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lawyer.jpg\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51086\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lawyer.jpg\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"439\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lawyer.jpg 1060w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lawyer-150x110.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Threats to cause workplace disruptions<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With the tenants being foreigners, they may have been unfamiliar with the rental process or trusted the landlord too much while signing the tenancy agreement. This might have resulted in them unwittingly signing themselves into an unfair contract that allowed the landlord to evict them at the landlord\u2019s whim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tenancy-agreement.png\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51087\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tenancy-agreement.png\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tenancy-agreement.png 1764w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tenancy-agreement-1536x667.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tenancy-agreement-150x65.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The landlord even threatened to go to the tenant\u2019s workplace to cause a scene, which she had done before and caused the tenant to receive a warning letter from the HR department.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51088\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat1.png\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat1.png 1388w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat1-150x89.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-51089\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat2.png\" alt=\"tenant dispute\" width=\"600\" height=\"68\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat2.png 1458w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat2-1440x166.png 1440w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/threat2-150x17.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After going around in circles with the relevant authorities, the tenant seems to have given up hope of recouping her deposit. The cost of taking legal action would be not just financially but also emotionally taxing on the tenant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To avoid getting into hot soup as a tenant, here are five things you should take note of before signing your tenancy agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Check the Non-Citizen quota<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To prevent foreigner enclaves from taking root in HDB estates, the government implemented a Non-Citizen (NC) quota for landlords intending to rent out their flats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The quota applies as long as one of the tenants is a non-Malaysian non-citizen, including Singapore permanent residents and foreigners. Due to Malaysia sharing close cultural and historical similarities with Singaporeans, they\u2019re not subject to the quota.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Non-Malaysian NC quota at neighbourhood level: 8%<br \/>\n<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Non-Malaysian NC quota at block level: 11%<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once the quota has been reached, only Singaporeans or Malaysians can rent a unit in the neighbourhood or block.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Checking the NC quota of a flat can be done so\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/services2.hdb.gov.sg\/webapp\/BR12AWNCQuota\/BR12PEnquire.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Always read the tenancy agreement<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">No matter how much an agent tells you that the tenancy agreement is \u201cstandard\u201d, make sure you read and understand every single page of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Any vagueness in the agreement should be discussed and addressed in case things turn sour with the landlord.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_25584\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25584\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25584\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tenancy-agreement.jpg\" alt=\"tenancy agreement\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-25584\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Read and digest every single line before signing the next two years of your life away to a unit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you\u2019re a foreigner, make sure there\u2019s a diplomatic clause written into it. You might be required to leave the country on short notice, and the clause allows you to terminate the lease before it\u2019s up without suffering any penalties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without a diplomatic clause, you might have to keep paying the monthly rent even if you\u2019re not living there anymore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Don\u2019t be pressured into signing something you haven\u2019t read and if you see something in the agreement that you\u2019re unsure about, clarify it with the agent. You will regret it when an unpleasant situation arises during your rental journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Right of re-entry<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A landlord can only forfeit the tenancy and enter the premises if the tenant breaches the terms of the agreement, such as failing to pay rent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Re-entry can only be done if the landlord makes a formal demand and legal proceedings to take back possession of the unit are carried out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, this is a harsh option, and the courts will usually give the tenant up to a month to make amends and pay rent so the tenancy can continue.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most leases will also have a clause written to give tenants \u201cexclusive possession\u201d of the unit. This means that the landlord will not be able to barge in unannounced anytime they wish to do a surprise check or let others view it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To avoid waking up to strangers in your house, we reiterate: Read the tenancy agreement thoroughly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. You are not liable for damages exceeding a certain amount<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When my partner and I rented our first apartment, we were so caught up in the excitement of having our own place that we glanced through the tenancy agreement briefly and inked the deal within minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It was a relatively new apartment where the landlord had mounted a television right beside the balcony. Because of the afternoon sun, there was strong sunlight shining directly on the TV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After two years, the screen had warping on the edges, which we overlooked because we barely used it over the rental period of two years. When the lease was up, the landlord demanded we replace the TV, saying we were careless with her possessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Being a non-confrontational person, I was ready to agree to it and pay for the full cost of a brand new TV, which was about S$2,500. However, my partner stepped in and negotiated down to a partial payment of around S$600 instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While it\u2019s not clear who was at fault here, we reached an amicable solution and got back most of our deposit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, do note that the tenant covered damage caused by wear and tear in most tenancy agreements. The amount ranges depending on the agreement, but it usually does not exceed S$200.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, if the washing machine breaks down and costs S$300 to fix, you\u2019ll have to pay S$200, and the landlord will cover the remaining S$100.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ensure there\u2019s also a 30-day live-in period, so you have time to test all electrical sockets and make sure everything is in working condition. You won\u2019t be liable for any damages or repairs during the first month.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Document everything before moving in<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To avoid being liable for existing damages from previous tenants, examine every inch of the apartment before moving in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_51106\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-51106\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/taking-photos.jpg\" class=\"img-link media-img img-link media-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-51106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/taking-photos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/taking-photos.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/taking-photos-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/taking-photos-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-51106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Time to flex those photography skills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Flush the toilets, run all taps, check cabinet and door hinges, electrical sockets and signs of water damage along the walls. Every chip, dent and scratch should be meticulously documented. If your apartment comes fully furnished, this includes existing wear and tear, such as stains and cracks on furniture such as the couch or wardrobes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Put the pictures in a comprehensive PDF file and email it to yourself and your agent to establish a date of proof. If you have videos, include them too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Doing so ensures you\u2019re protected if your landlord tries to find any reason to eat your deposit once your lease is up by kicking up a fuss over existing damages in the apartment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whip out that camera and get to work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Any questions about renting in Singapore? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook post.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">If you found this article helpful, check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/rental-viewing-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rental viewing checklist for the savvy tenant<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/ask-10-questions-renting-singapore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Here are 10 questions when renting in Singapore<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for a property? 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Meanwhile, if you have an interesting property-related story to share with us, drop us a message\u00a0<a class=\"c-link\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"mailto:marketing@99.co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-stringify-link=\"mailto:marketing@99.co\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\" aria-haspopup=\"menu\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-remove-tab-index=\"true\">here<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 and we\u2019ll review it and get back to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On paper, renting an apartment seems straightforward enough. You view a property within your budget that you like, you sign the tenancy agreement, and you move in.\u00a0 Simple, right? Well, not quite. There are many horror stories from tenants who were forcibly evicted by nightmare landlords, and it seems a new case surfaces every couple&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":51095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53589,57131,53590],"tags":[56420,53889,56210,55234,53680],"persona":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post","15":"entry","16":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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