Guide To Renting Private Residential Property
The Process
Process of renting
Decide on your budget and criteria for a rental home. Consider engaging a real estate salesperson (property agent) who can assist you in pricing your rent
Check that the salesperson is registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)
Search and browse rental listings
Consider engaging a real estate salesperson (property agent) who can assist you in your search, help with paperwork and negotiate on your behalf
Check that the salesperson is registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA)
Shortlist and arrange to view the properties you are interested in
View the properties
You should take a look at the surroundings
You should also look at the common areas and facilities to check on maintenance
Letter of Intent (LOI) and good faith deposit
LOI is an offer from you to rent the property. It should include the following:
Name of tenant and NRIC/passport number
Lease term of usually 6 months, 1 year or 2 years
Monthy rental
Expiry of LOI.
This is the time frame, usually 7 days, for the landlord to accept your offer.
Good faith deposit, usually equal to one month of rent.
In return for the deposit, the landlord cannot offer the property to another tenant.
The landlord must return this deposit in full if he does not accept the rental offer.
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the
Tenancy Agreement (TA) is signed
Security deposit
This is usually one month of rent for each year of lease term.
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the Tenancy Agreement is signed
This will be returned without interest to the you at the end of the lease, after deduction of any cost for damage according to the Tenancy Agreement.
Additional requirements. You may specify requirements such as:
Permission to sublet your property
Permission to live with pets
Diplomatic clause. Under this clause, you can terminate the lease after 12 months by giving 2 months notice if you are no longer employed by your employer in Singapore. You will have to the landlord show proof of your transfer to other countries or cessation of employment in Singapore
Tenancy Agreement (TA)
If the landlord accepts your offer, he will prepare the TA, to be signed by both of you. This forms the rental contract
The TA should include the following:
Landlord’s name and contact details
Name of tenant and NRIC/passport number
Lease term
Monthy rental
Payment conditions
Security deposit
This is usually one month of rent for each year of lease term.
The good faith deposit is converted into the security deposit or the first month of rent after the Tenancy Agreement is signed
This will be returned without interest to you at the end of the lease, after deduction of any cost for damage according to the Tenancy Agreement.
Terms for repairs
Inventory
Additional requirements. You may have requests such as:
Permission to sublet your property
Permission to live with pets
Diplomatic clause. Under this clause, you can terminate the lease after 12 months by giving 2 months notice if you are no longer employed by your employer in Singapore. You will have to the landlord show proof of your transfer to other countries or cessation of employment in Singapore
Payment of deposit and fees
Upon signing the TA, you will have to pay
Security deposit, less the good faith deposit already paid
The first month of rent in advance
Payment of stamp duty
You are required to pay stamp duty to IRAS to have the TA stamped within 14 days of signing it if it was signed in Singapore
The deadline for stamping is 30 days after receiving the document in Singapore if it was signed overseas
You can e-Stamp online or at these locations listed by IRAS
AAR refers to the higher of the average annual contractual or annualised market rent and includes other considerations such as payments for:
Advertising and Promotion charge
Furniture / Fittings charge
Maintenance charge
Service charge
Any other charges, excluding GST charges
Inspection and handover, your salesperson can assist with this
Check each item on the inventory list with the landlord or his salesperson on or a few days before the date of commencement of the list
Receive the keys
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