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Wrath of a Wife Beater & Renters Insurance – Deadly Tenant Sins Story
“Giving out your place on rent in Singapore is not just difficult, it can be dangerous too” – we have heard one too many times!
However, a lot is still unspoken and not much effort put into solving this permanently.
In our endeavour to improve the Truuue Rental App, we often conduct surveys, in-person interviews and gather product feedback via social media and real-time interviews.
This has lead to the uncovering of many scary rental scams and incidents Singapore landlords fall prey to.
Introducing our Halloween series of “Tenants from Hell” in which we will feature real experience as shared with us by the landlords, who poured their hearts out to us.
The wife beater
“He could have beaten his wife to death!”
Excerpts from the interview with Bethanie Ong
Bethanie – I have a condo in Pasir Ris, which was not rented for three years since I purchased it. It was essentially a new place and I was thinking of moving there myself. However, I had to stay near my parents’ home in the west and realized that it might take me some more time to go and stay over there myself. Someone suggested to me to rent out and I thought it would be a good idea. That was such a huge mistake!
Truuue – Tell us, what happened?
Bethanie – I thought it might be a good idea to rent it out to a small family who can take care of the place as if it’s their own and when I met this young couple from India, I thought it’s a perfect match. Wow, that was probably my worst judgment of character. I have lost confidence since then. Not sure whether I will ever let out my place to anyone.
Truuue – Sorry to hear about that. Something terrible must have happened. Would you like to share the details with us?
Bethanie – Yeah it really terrible and had I not intervened this guy would have murdered his wife that night. He had this temper issue. A complete nutcase!
I got to know about this much later. The husband terrorized his wife and when he used to get angry, he was totally out of control and would throw things towards her and hit her like a maniac! She was literally a punching bag!
That evening the violence became worst and one of the neighbours called me around 6 or 7 in the evening and told me he has heard a huge fight and the wife screaming for help. He first called the police and then me.
By the time I reached there, they took the wife to hospital emergency care and the husband fled from the scene. He later got arrested.
The house was a war zone – it was totally destroyed. Blood on the floor, broken glasses, shattered TV screen, damaged wall – it looked like hell! I think I spent around $1500 to fix everything. I will never ever rent this place again.
Truuue – We understand it was a horrible experience and you lost money as well as peace. If our team takes care of your rental experience and protect you from financial loss, would you be interested to rent your place again?
Bethanie – Most definitely loh! With Truuue, I can only trust a stranger in my house easily, especially cause your renters’ insurance covers malicious damage and more which fits perfect for any landlord in my situation!
At TruRental we are committed to delivering the best experience suited for both landlord and tenant. We care about all the parties in the property transaction; we always aim for the WIN-WIN outcome. As you are reading this, our team is working relentlessly to find a suitable solution for these issues. To know more about our mission, follow us and download our app. Enjoy peace of mind the next time you rent in Singapore!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Find Rooms For Rent In Singapore – Tampines, Pasir Ris, And Other Eastern Estates
If you’re looking for the easiest and most convenient way to find a property and rent in Singapore, TRUrental is a great option for you. The app sends you daily notifications about new listings, which are selected for you based on your specified search criteria.
With the app, you’ll also hear from landlords who want you as their tenant, which makes finding a home twice as easy and twice as fast!
Here are some of the active rental listings available for September 2018.
Check out more inside the Truuue Tenant app! If you are a landlord or agent, you can list your rental unit for free in our Truuue Landlord app.
To learn more, call TRUrental at 65918842. You could be scheduling viewing appointments as soon as today.
Renting in Tampines, Simei and Pasir Ris: Everything You Need To Know
There are many advantages to having a property on rent in Singapore’s eastern region. For one, it means quick and easy access to Changi International Airport, which is an absolute bonus if your job requires frequent travel. (Besides, the number one airport in the world also boasts four terminals that are chock-full of family-friendly amenities, activities and eateries.)
Secondly, you’ll find that some of the best local parks and beaches are located in the east, including Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park. And finally, life-long ‘easties’ will argue that the sun shines just a little brighter on their side of the island (a claim that’s not actually backed by proper scientific evidence).
By the time we are done, you will have the information you need to decide if you are an “east-sider”!
Basic Figures
Tampines Area: 20.89 sq km Population: 258,310 (2015)
Simei Area: 2.78 sq km Population: 42, 710 (2015)
Pasir Ris Area: 15.02 sq km Population: 139,810 (2015)
Got A Job In The East? Great!
Known as the commercial hub of the east, the Tampines Regional Centre is home to insurance giant AIA, major banks such as UOB and OCBC, and the Central Provident Fund (CPF). I don’t know anyone who likes a long commute, so if your place of work happens to be located in and around the regional centre, that may be reason enough to make Tampines your home base – you could be walking to work or just be a short bus ride away. (Simei and Pasir Ris would just be one and two train stations away, respectively.)
Also located in the area is the Changi Business Park (also known as the CBD of the east), a technology, IT and financial services centre. It houses major banks – Citi Group, DBS, Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered, to name a few – and other major companies including Cisco Systems, Infosys, Huawei, Honeywell, Wipro – the list goes on. The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the Singapore Expo are also situated in the area. If you’re working in any one of these organisations, know that the business centre is serviced by the Expo MRT station, which means a quick train ride to and from any of the three estates.
The estates are also extremely well-connected to the rest of the island. The Tampines bus interchange and MRT station (East-West Line and Downtown Line) – both located in the heart of the Tampines Regional Centre, makes travel to the Central Business District (CBD) – and to the rest of the country – uber convenient. (too early?)
For drivers and “Grab-ers”, the entrances/exits to major expressways like the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), Tampines Expressway (TPE) and East Coast Parkway (ECP) are just minutes away from these two major centres.
And if your day-job is an international man/woman of mystery, just note that the by-road commute is only mere minutes from your departure gate.
MATURE ESTATE NICETIES
Are you a homebody? Do you fantasize about pan roasted meals, fresh home cooked pasta, and ice cream binging? No less than 6 supermarkets (yes, more than the fingers on your right hand) are at your grocery run’s disposal.
At the Tampines Regional Centre alone are three supermarkets, each located within the following malls – Tampines Mall, Tampines 1 and Century Square. Next to the Simei MRT station is EastPoint Mall, which has a FairPrice supermarket taking up the entire fifth floor.
In Pasir Ris, White Sands Shopping Centre (located right by the Pasir Ris MRT station) also has an NTUC FairPrice in its basement. As if that isn’t enough, there’s always the Giant Hypermarket located at 1 Tampines North Drive 2 (right across from an IKEA and a Courts Megastore, in case you need to do some furniture shopping).
As you get to know your area, you’ll find more minimarts and smaller supermarkets peppered around the residential areas within each of the estates, many of them located at the void decks or ground floors of HDB flats and private condominiums – you’ll never have to worry about running out of milk.
The area is also well supported by medical services. If you’re feeling under the weather, you won’t have to travel far to see a doctor. The Singapore Doctors Directory online lists at least 37 clinics in Tampines alone (6 in Simei, and another 12 in Pasir Ris). Along with SingHealth, these are useful resources if you need to locate a 24-hour clinic, check where your nearest hospital is at, find a paediatrician, and so on.
In a medical emergency, there are two hospitals (open 24-hours) to save your life: Changi General Hospital at 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529889, and St Andrew’s Community Hospital at 8 Simei Street 3, Singapore 529895.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Locksmith/Key Duplication
So you’ve just rented your apartment and need to make an extra set of keys. Mister Minit is a reliable key-duplication chain store to go to and there just happens to be one located at EastPoint Mall (B1-K1). But what if you’ve misplaced your keys or are locked out of your rental? Well, Hoe Siong LockSmith(Blk 406 Tampines Street 41, #01-13, Singapore 520406) can not only duplicate your keys, they also happen to be (well-reviewed) locksmiths that have been in the business for 25 years and is one of the best 3 in the business!
Singapore Post Offices
Pay your utility bills and send your letters at any one of these locations:
1 Tampines Central 5, #01-03 CPF Tampines Building, 529508
350 Bedok Rd, Singapore 469538
White Sands, 1 Pasir Ris Central Street 3, #05-01, Singapore 518457
Laundromats
If your rental doesn’t come with a washing machine, or if said machine is eaten by the Cthulhu, here are some 24-hour anti-monster laundry solutions:
Wonder Wash (24 hours): 527D Pasir Ris Street 51, #01-02, Singapore 514527
Dobi Ekspress (24 hours): 445 Pasir Ris Drive 6 #01-100, Singapore 510445
Bubble Wash Simei (24 hours): 17 Simei St 4, #01-58, Singapore 529881
Wash2Dry (24 hours): 201E Tampines Street 23, #01-122, Singapore 527201
The Laundry Room (24 hours): 164 Tampines St 12, #01-297, Singapore 521164
FEAST IN THE EAST!
Seriously, food is everywhere. In Singapore, you cannot walk one kilometre without running into an eatery or food kiosk of some sort – eating is unabashedly the nation’s favourite past-time and this region has an equal share of delicious food finds. We’re simply highlighting some of the places where locals have given the thumbs up.
1. Ministry of Rojak
White Sands Shopping Centre, 1 Pasir Ris Central St 3, #01-30, S(518457).
Known for their Indian Rojak Fondue, the stall also offers local favourites such as tulang, mutton chop and bee hoon goreng. Wash it all down with a hot Teh Tarik or an ice-cold milo dinosaur.
Mellben Seafood Palace
440 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #01-13, S(510440).
This coffeeshop is famous for their pepper crab and crab bee hoon dishes. If you love seafood, it’s worth a visit.
Humble Burger
Pasir Ris Hawker Centre, 110 Pasir Ris Central, #02-22, S(519641).
For an interesting take on the traditional burger, head down to this hawker stall to try their Chicken Rice Burger (with buns made from chicken rice) or Sio Bak Burger. Or you could just indulge in the classics (with a side of twister fries) – their fish and beef burgers are really good.
Comida Fiesta
Singapore Expo Hall 4, 1 Expo Drive, #01-41, S(486150).
The restaurant serves up Filipino-Spanish fusion cuisine with dishes like Kare Kare, Sinigang, Sizzling Sisig, and Seafood Paella.
The Flourist
824 Tampines Street 81, #01-36, Singapore 520824
Here’s a cozy café where you can choose from a sweet selection of gelato flavours such as Matcha and Horlicks, and pair them with a plain waffle, or something more adventurous like charcoal mochi.
GET OUT OF YOUR HOME TODAY
Whether you choose to rent in Tampines, Simei or Pasir Ris, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much there is to do in the area.
If your idea of recreation is picking up a great book, you’ll probably never want to leave the massive five-storey Tampines Regional Library. It spans over 10,900 m2 and has over 400,000 books. The library has designed several reading areas that cater to the different age groups.
Flip through a magazine while overlooking a football field or hop on the one exercise bike that’s fitted with a reading desk – after you’ve worked up an appetite, why not take out one of the many recipe books available for loan so you can whip up a lovely meal. (Incidentally, the library also has a culinary studio where cooking classes are periodically run. Just saying.)
There’s another library at White Sands in Pasir Ris, albeit on a smaller scale (1,986 m2 and housing 125,000 books).
If retail therapy is your idea of a good time, there are five malls to drain your bank account: Tampines Mall, Century Square, Tampines 1 (Tampines); EastPoint Mall (Simei); and White Sands (Pasir Ris).
Catch the latest blockbuster at any one of the four movie theatres located at Tampines Mall, Our Tampines Hub, Century Square, and Downtown East.
Dreaming of that beach bod? No more excuses!
The sprawling Tampines Hub, houses swimming pools, jogging tracks, a professional football pitch, rock-climbing walls, a 30-lane bowling alley, an 836 m2 gymnasium, and so on. Alternatively, slap on some sunblock and go for a run or a bike-ride on the Tampines Park connector, a respectable 7 km stretch of largely car-free pathways that connects the three estates, and takes you from Bedok Reservoir Park to Pasir Ris Park. And as you explore the neighbourhoods, you’ll discover that the various estates are peppered with smaller parks, and outdoor playgrounds and gyms (and they’re free to use). With such easy access to everything, there’s no excuse not to get your workout on.
For something a little less manicured, take a leisurely cycle to the Tampines Quarry Park, a small body of water frequented by locals in the know. On weekends, drone-flyers and anglers looking for their elusive catches are a familiar sight, as are cyclists and picnickers.
Pasir Ris Park is another great outdoor space that’s perfect for a day out with friends and family. Not only is the park a safe and scenic environment for cycling and inline skating, kids can also go on pony rides and enjoy the park’s adventure playground. When you’re hungry after all that activity, you could have a packed picnic lunch or rent a barbecue pit (or enjoy a meal at the nearby food outlets). But this isn’t any run-of-the-mill park. There’s also a six-hectare mangrove forest that you’re welcome to explore, as well as a butterfly garden and a birdwatching tower. You could even pitch a tent and camp under the stars in one of the designated camping sites – a pleasant respite from the concrete jungle.
Downtown East in Pasir Ris is a great way to spend the weekend afternoon in a game of laser tag or get some watersports fun at Wild Wild Wet, Singapore’s largest water park.
The integrated accomodations at D’Resort can give you and your family overnight fun at all of Downtown East’s offering too!
These three estates are exceedingly self-sufficient; not only would you have easy access to all your daily needs, there’s also plenty of fun to be had. You may be hard-pressed to think of reasons not to lease in the east!
READY TO RENT? CHECK TRUUUE OUT!
Download the Truuue Tenant app and let landlords find you today. It’s the easiest way find a room or apartment on rent in Singapore. For landlords, list your unit for free on Truuue Landlord today!
Plus, you can use our super easy-to-use app to coordinate your rental unit viewings, for free! And if you need to speak to a real person, simply call our hotline at 6591 8842 to access our Concierge services!
Rent happy with Truuue!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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What tenants need! 4 services to keep in mind while you rent in Singapore
Singapore is one of the most attractive countries for expats to live and work. Needless to say, it is common for expats to move into properties on rent in Singapore.
However, whether you are new to the country or simply upgrading your home, one is often unsure of all the impromptu requirements that may arise as one settles in and make this country home for the next foreseeable future.
Fret not! Based on our industry experience, we have compiled a list of 4 services that you as a tenant in Singapore should know and be prepared.
Mover
Moving to a new home is a happy affair. To make your moving day a memorable milestone for yourself start with engaging a reliable mover. This will give you a hassle-free experience to move to a property on rent in Singapore.
Cleaner
In a busy city with most hours of the week working, everyone is just too exhausted to do the daily household chores of dusting, mopping and general maintenance. More so, not everyone can afford the luxury of having full time help at home.
So what are your alternatives? How can you have an energetic life for the family after work?
The answer is simple — by leveraging services from our other concierge partner Kaodim. You can get professional cleaners, contractors, caterers among others from Kaodim’s platform for services.
Air-Con Services
A tropical country by the sea, Singapore is hot and humid almost all year round.
What brings respite to this heat?
The almost 24/7 air cons at our workplaces and home.
Needless to say, they need regular maintenance too so you “Don’t sweat it!”. In fact most rental agreements have a clause for servicing the air cons once a quarter.
Our suggestion, sign up with a vendor for regular servicing and ensure your air con is working at its maximum potential.
Handyman
Tenancy agreements in Singapore usually state “Any handyman jobs above $150 is to be borne by the tenant themselves”. So next time your bathroom tap leaks or you want to hang your favourite picture on the wall, don’t scramble, just call us for our exclusive concierge service!
At Truuue we believe not just helping you find your soulful living, but also enable you to live carefree — Because time is irreplaceable and life is infinitely easier when everything you need for your home is in a single TRUrental (also known as Truuue Tenant) app. So let’s make your time when you shift or rent in Singapore easier. Download now!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Give your home that refreshing smell!
Have you ever walked into a hotel, sniff the air and go… “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that smells so good”? I know I do, especially when I’m at Asia Square or Capita Green. For some reason, these scents seem to affect me and put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. So what’s the secret, and how do you make your house smell just as inviting for guests or potential while offering your property on sale or rent in Singapore?
Floral
Sweet and romantic, this scent is suitable if you enjoy floral scents such rose, lavender, sage, chamomile, geranium, jasmine, juniper berry, lavender, rose, and ylang ylang.
Woody
The woody scent is generally warm, dry and sharp. This scent makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the forest where you can enjoy the fresh, natural, earthy scent of Atlas cedar, balsam fir, clove, cedarwood, cypress and pine. Having a woody scent in your home might also give your visitors a feel that they are in a furniture shop and give off the impression that all your furniture are brand new.
Citrus
A personal favourite, the citrus scent is heavily infused with energetic and vibrant notes of citrus fruits such as lemon, grapefruit, orange, mandarin and bergamot. I just love how it keeps me awake and refreshed after a good night rest.
Oriental
Another favourite scent of mine, I absolutely love the smell of ginger flowers from Shanghai Tang (this is not sponsored). This scent is aromatic, invigorating and includes anise, basil, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, tea tree, and thyme. Definitely exotic but give it a chance!
Gourmet
Want to make your house smell like fresh cookies? Try using scents with notes of vanilla and cocoa. Otherwise, just pop a few subway cookies in the oven to bring out that freshly baked fragrance! It’s also a good idea to brew some fresh coffee before your visitors arrive so that you can offer them a cuppa and have your house smell good! Double whammy!
Do you have other fresh ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Comment below to tell us what are some of your favorite scents.
Looking to rent? Truuue Tenant (also known as TRUrental Tenant) is a new generation prop-tech platform which can help you rent in Singapore as easily and painlessly as possible by providing the best match based on your need and budget.
Download our Truuue Tenant App here to access the most comprehensive home and room rental service in Singapore! Best of all, NO AGENT FEES! Same for the landlord! Download the landlord app here.
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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How to rent in Singapore with your furry friends
I love animals. In fact, I have a cute little maltese who has been with me for 5 years . So when I got an offer to work in Singapore, the first thing that came into mind was how I can find a home for Queen Elizabark. I was uncertain if I would get a place to rent in Singapore where the landlords would allow any animals in the house. And if they did, how would I get about doing it?
After a very long and stressful search, I finally found an apartment that allowed pets. There were a lot of rules and procedures. Some of which include:
Written introduction and description of myself and my pet
Face to face Interview (with Queen Elizabark)
Pet policy
Pet Damage Deposit
Extra $XX per month on top of the usual rent
I couldn’t bear living without Queen Elizabark so I sucked it up and paid my first deposit. It was pricey, so I guess I get to eat my boxed mac and cheese for the many months to come – double whammy.
From this experience, I learnt a few lessons:
Give yourself enough time.
Moving to a brand new place is already a huge hassle, much less finding one that accepts pets. If you are planning to rent in Singapore soon, start to check ads and contact real estate agents and rental agencies at least eight weeks before your lease expires. Having more time also means that you might have a higher chance of finding more than one pet friendly house, thus giving you better options to choose from.
Show that you’re a responsible pet owner
Show your prospective landlords that you’re responsible. Provide as many documents as possible to convince them. If possible, provide the following documents:
A letter of reference from your current landlord or condominium association verifying that you are a responsible pet owner.
Written proof that your adult dog has completed or has already been enrolled in a training class.
A letter from your veterinarian or documentation that your pet has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies.
Be willing to pay a little extra.
Tell your prospective landlord that you are willing to pay an extra deposit to cover any damages your pet might make to the property.
Looking to rent? Truuue Tenant (also known as TRUrental Tenant) is a new generation prop-tech platform which can help you rent in Singapore as easily and painlessly as possible.
Download our Truuue Tenant App here to access the most comprehensive home and room rental service in Singapore! Best of all, NO AGENT FEES! Same for landlord! Download the landlord app here.
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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I’m Singaporean and I prefer to rent
Singapore is unique in that most of us tend to prefer to buy rather than rent in Singapore. Scoot over to Germany, France and Switzerland, and you’ll find that the rental market there supersedes homeownership. Why? For one, Europe has way better regulations that are “Renter-friendly” and house prices are too high for any normal income person to afford. For example, in Germany, the government doesn’t let homeowners deduct mortgage-interest payments from their taxes. That’s a pretty good reason not to buy a house, especially when your government doesn’t encourage it.
But here in this little red dot, the view that we should buy a property is deeply entrenched, despite the high cost of owning one and many being on “lease” for 99 years. Of course, the main reason for this mentality could be linked back to our Asian roots where families should always own a house for future generations. On top of that, our government encourages homeownership. Take a look at our housing policies. For instance, The Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings is used to support Singaporeans in buying properties. Many believe that buying a property would serve as a good investment in the long run. On the other hand, rental money effectively gives you nothing. But stop for a second and think, do you really need to buy a house? What’s stopping you from renting one? Is it pressure from parents? Pressure from your peers (applying for BTO)? Age? Girlfriend wants to get married? Renting is not “cool” enough?
So under what circumstances should you buy or rent? Read on to find out.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
Buying a house is a huge long term commitment. Most young Singaporeans looking at getting their own place would likely need to take a loan. And these loans aren’t exactly small. Some of them can last up to 30 years. That means you’ll be stuck with your mortgage even until your late 50’s. You have to be sure that you can secure financial stability in the many years to come. Hate your job? You might have to think twice about career switches that might put your mortgage at risk. Always wanted to take a gap year overseas to further your education for a year or so? Not with that debt you have. Renting proves to be a better idea for those who are starting earlier in their careers. You get the freedom to pursue your relevant interests. If you’re making a risky career switch and things don’t go your way, you would have the option to move to a smaller place to ease the financial load temporarily.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to start a family in Singapore with no migration plans in the next 10 years, and your cumulative household income is comfortable. Then buying a house would be the right path to go.
99 YEAR LEASE
In most cases, the 99-year lease might prove unfavorable for families planning to buy a house. It is important to note that most of the properties in Singapore are leasehold properties. This means that when the lease ends, the property goes back to the government. Frankly speaking, you’re technically paying “rent” to live in a house you believe is yours. On top of that, the plan to provide a house for the next 5 generations may not be possible. Assuming you bought the house at year 0, 99 years would probably max out to only three generations before the government claims it back. The worse news is that the value of your property would have dropped by then. Properties on a 99-year lease are more vulnerable to sliding prices as compared to the 999-year lease or Freehold properties. Of course, if you have grand plans to move overseas or upgrade your HDB to a 999-year lease or freehold property, then this will not be an issue.
Renting a property protects you from the fear of sliding property prices. While your rent might fluctuate, you will always have more flexibility to choose a new place.
That said, I don’t encourage local families to rent and hop. Keep in mind that it is extremely exhausting to move all the time, especially for the children. Children also need a proper environment where they can grow and develop. And trust me, a constant change of environment is not good for them.
MAINTENANCE COSTS
More often than not, when something in the house needs fixing or attention, it is usually sudden and unprecedented. In your own property, this would incur further costs on top of your loan.
With rental however, depending on your tenancy agreement, the landlord will pay for replacement of household appliances. For example, if your air conditioner is literally falling apart, your landlord will be in charge of getting it fixed. While this might seem insignificant, every problem you face will set you back a little bit more. While this might not be the strongest pull factor to rent, it still represents the up side to having a place on rent in Singapore.
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Truuuely salvaged by the threatening landlord – Scary rental scams Story
There are always two sides to a story. We pride ourselves to be unbiased, tailored and about U, U and U!
By that virtue, like the landlords, we are trusted by many in the Renters cohort as well.
Launching our Halloween series of Scary Landlords featuring real experience as shared with us by people who live on rent in Singapore!
The Threatening Landlord
“There will be consequences if you cannot pay on time.”
Excerpt from the interview with Jennifer Koh.
Jennifer – I have been to Singapore many times on business trips since the company I work for is headquartered here. When they asked me to stay and work here for the extended duration, I was pleasantly surprised and readily accepted the offer. I was quite excited to stay independently and yet not too far away from my home in Malaysia.
Since my office is in Paya Lebar, I was suggested by one of my colleagues to get a place nearby and I quickly rented an HDB in Eunos that was within my budget and yet quite close to the work location.
Truuue – What kind of problems you had?
Jennifer – I was not quite aware of the renting terms and conditions and had no time to focus on the nitty-gritty when I relocated. There was a standard Tenancy Agreement (TA) that was prepared before I moved into the place and I managed to meet the landlord just once when he handed over the keys. He seemed quite friendly and helpful. He even offered me a lift to my office when he heard that I would be going to the office after taking the house keys from him.
Truuue – So there were no issues in the beginning. When did it start?
Jennifer – No issues at all! I was quite happy and had no doubt that everything would be great.
The problem started when I was asked to pay my rent in advance by the end of the month. I moved in on 5th of a month and in my TA it was mentioned that I should be paying my rent on the 5th day of each calendar month.
However, by month end, I received a call from my landlord who asked me to pay the next month’s rent without a miss on the same day or next to avoid any issues. Nothing stuck me and I agreed to pay him but was a bit offended by the tone of his voice. Later that day when I spoke to my office colleagues about it, they asked me to check the TA and then I realized that my landlord’s demand was completely unlawful.
I called him back to remind him about the TA and that was when he got abusive and started shouting at me. I was in tears and immediately disconnected the phone. But he called again and again till I answered his call after sometime. He told me that he could throw me out of the house and charge me penalties for not paying him on time. He even went to extent of reminding me that he knows where I work and he can come to my office and talk to the company if I am not willing to follow his terms.
Truuue – How this got resolved?
Jennifer – Not easily. I had to tell my father and ask for help. Luckily his friend is a lawyer in Singapore. I was scared and I already paid but did not want to extend my stay in that place for one more day.
I moved out and started staying with one of my friends. In the meanwhile, my father’s friend had a chat with my landlord. This discussion went on for a few days and after that, I was told I could move out completely without any problem.
Still, I lost nearly $1000 from the advanced deposit, I never received the complete money in return.
Truuue – This was quite an unfortunate incident. Would you like our team to monitor the public listings and provide you with the best match within your budget and area preference? You may chat ‘privately’ before viewing the property and even withheld your identity until you are confident enough. All this is free. You may go ahead and splurge on the rent if you wish and are confident.
Jennifer – Yes! Yes! Yes!
If only I found you earlier Truuue, I could have easily avoided this traumatic experience!!
At Truuue we are committed to delivering the best experience suited for both landlord and tenant. We care about all the parties in the property transaction; we always aim for the WIN-WIN outcome. As you are reading this, our team is working relentlessly to find a suitable solution for these issues. To know more about our mission, follow us and download our app. Enjoy peace of mind for your next rental!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Utilities – All you need to know guide to rent in Singapore
So, you found your ideal house to rent in Singapore, you are ready to move in and can’t wait to use your concierge vouchers from us, but not just yet! Before you unlock that front door, are you aware of all the clauses in your tenancy agreement — Especially about your obligations towards paying for the utilities?
Well, Utilities expenses are recurring and hence it makes a lot of sense to spend some time and review them. By the time you finish reading this article, you will know almost everything about “Utilities�� set-up, payment and management.
Let us start with a set of frequently asked what’s, their possible answers and best practices:
What are the questions that you can ask related to your new rented house utilities while signing the Tenancy Agreement (TA)?
What are included under Utilities in the Tenancy Agreement?
Usually, it is the water, gas and electricity supply which forms a typical Utility Bill. However these days most condos have an induction stove which eliminates gas.
What about the Internet, telephone, television, aircon maintenance services (Sign up and rent through Truuue App and get $100 home service voucher)?
Amenities such as landline telephone services, aircon servicing, internet broadband, and cable T.V. are your prerogative. You are solely responsible for setting them up and maintaining them.
Will the utilities be billed to you as a stand-alone house or will your landlord get the bills, which then he claims from you?
This is a landlord’s prerogative. If the utilities were transferred in your name using your FIN or NRIC number, in that case, you will receive your bills every month and have to pay it to the authorities as and when due.
However if you are renting just a common room or a new en-bloc property like I, where the landlord chooses to bill you back the expenses with every month’s rent, all you got to do is pay on time!
When are the bills due for the utilities?
This primarily depends on when your account was set. We will come to how to set your account in some time.
What is the formula for calculating the cost of utilities if it is billed to the landlord?
Unless you occupy the whole unit, most landlord’s in Singapore divide the bill based on the number of the occupant or includes it as a part of your rent.
Communication is the key – You can always ask for the bill to know the monthly consumption.
For further information on current and historical data on tariffs and details on the national average household consumption, you can visit SP Group, the electricity provider to all residential consumers in Singapore.
Confirm that there are no outstanding utility bills on your house
It is good practice to get at least a verbal (and if possible a written) confirmation from the landlord clearly stating that there are no outstanding utility bills to avoid any unsavoury experience during your stay. I’d recommend following this at the end of your lease term as well.
So now that you are clear with the basics lets look at how to set up your utility account.
You can set up the three basic utilities gas, water, and electricity supply by opening a single account with Singapore Power services (SP Services).
Completed and Signed Application form for Utilities Account
FIN or NRIC copy – Front and Back
Letter of Authorisation from ACRA registered Director (only if leasing the property under the Business’s name)
Latest ACRA detailed business profile (Applicable only if creating a residential account under Company’s name)
Documentary proof of occupancy of premises (Usually required upon request)
And initial Security Deposit.
The security deposit ranges from $40 – $400 and $80 – $800 depending on the type of premises you want to rent in Singapore for Citizens/permanent residents and the Expat or Work Pass holders respectively.
The application process:
Applying for a Utility account is simple and SP Services ideally takes about 3 business days to activate the account for you (There is also an express service available to activate services by paying an extra $60 and three hours of notice on all working days except Sunday & public holidays, depending on appointment availability). However, to be on the safe side I’d give it a week.
You can apply for the Utility activation both online and offline.
Option 1: Apply online through the SP Service’s website by filling up the online application form which takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Option 2: Like Truuue, SP Utilities has a downloadable App adding to your convenience of being able to apply via mobile or a smart device.
Option 3: Call the toll free number 1800-2222 333 for a phone application. Or you can Fax the completed application form to 6304-8229
Option 4: Apply via Snail Mail: take print and fill up the application form and post it to the address:
Senior Manager (customer service), SP Services Ltd
10 Pasir Panjang Road #03-01
Mapletree Business City
Singapore 117438
Option 5: Apply directly at a customer service centre. There are 2 locations as listed below. Choose either and submit personally.
Manulife Tower: 8 Cross Street #02-01/03, Manulife Tower, Singapore 048424
HDB Hub: 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #02-08 HDB Hub, Singapore 310480
There are a few exceptions and important inclusions, we encourage you to read here.
Now that your Utility is set, make sure you clear your bills on time and avoid any late charges. Thisdetails the components of your bill for easy understanding.
Late Utility Bill charges come in a pink notice reminder fee of 50 cents in addition to a 1% per month charged for late payment.
For all who share an apartment, you could insert a clause in the tenancy agreement that would explicitly state that you would not be held responsible for any late payment of bills if you had made every possible effort to pay them on time.
Bill Payment Methods
Again there are online and offline methods to pay your utility bills on time.
For a hassle-free-no-reminder method, simply set up a GIRO account and link all your recurring bills for payment through it.
Alternatively, you can always pay using their app, or login to your online account or the island-wide several AXS machines.
Retain bills and documents
It is highly recommended to retain your utility bills, Tenancy Agreement, Payment Receipts, and any other monetary exchange receipts with the landlord or the service provider. These documents are the best way to resolve any dispute that might arise between you and the other parties.
We at TRUUUE seek to promote mutual trust and understanding between the tenant and the landlord.
But a truly win-win situation can happen only when all the parties involved are aware of their rights and responsibilities, and act accordingly.
We at TRUrental wish you a Truuue-ly happy stay at your home!
Are you a tenant looking for a room or whole unit to rent in Singapore? Download Truuue Tenant and enjoy perks like Home Service coupons (you can use for your aircon servicing or home cleaning or any other handyman jobs) and peace of mind (our services are always FREE)!
Are you a Landlord who is looking for his next tenant or planning to rent in Singapore soon? Download Truuue Landlord and enjoy tailored service with “Truuue’s customer care” as the mediators, Renters Insurance and verified Tenants at the lowest fee in the market of S$50* upon successful transaction.
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Find Rooms For Rent In Singapore – Yishun, Woodlands, and Other Northern Estates
Looking for an apartment or room on rent in Singapore can sometimes be a daunting task. Don’t you wish you can skip past the more tedious bits like going through hundreds of listings?
Well now you can. Simply tell us what kind of requirements you have in mind, and we will find the rooms for you. With Truuue Tenant, you don’t need to search through hundreds of listings to find a room or apartment. Instead, let our landlords find you, with TRUUUE!
If you open the Truuue Tenant everyday, you’ll see that our stock of rooms and apartments available for rent is renewed daily, especially in the Yishun and Woodlands areas.
Here are some of the active rental listings available for September 2018.
Check out more inside the Truuue Tenant app! If you are a landlord or agent, you can list your rental unit for free in our Truuue Landlord app.
These are neighbourhoods that are seeing high demand for rentals, because of the region’s ideal mix of budget-friendly and wide choices available. The best deals are always snapped up quickly. Don’t miss out on the perfect rental.
Call TRUrental at 6591 8842 today to set up your viewing appointments today!
Check your tenancy agreement for any possible disadvantages to you. (possible re-write of this article to own content)
https://www.posb.com.sg/personal/articles/home-car/clauses-to-look-out-for-in-a-tenancy-agreement
This is a sample from CASE (Consumers Association of Singapore)
https://www.case.org.sg/pdf/Model%20Tenancy%20Agreement.pdf
Average price of rental 1) rooms 2) apartments in <estate> HDB & Condo
Congratulations On Finding A Good Job!
If you are from China, India, or the Philippines, and have accepted a job offer to come and work in Singapore, congratulations! You’ve made the right choice!
And it is the right choice for many reasons. First of all, Singapore is consistently ranked in the top 10 best countries in the world for work (rated 6th in the world in 2016 by HSBC[1]), and was rated the best country to live in for 2018 (according to HSBC’s annual expat survey[2]).
Plus, if you are bringing your wife or young family along, you will be glad to know that it was chosen as the best country in the world for children to grow up in.[3]
But deciding to work in Singapore is just the first of the many right decisions you’ll have to make in making your transition to Singapore a smooth and painless experience over here.
The second one involves deciding on the right room or apartment to stay in. A multitude of factors have to be considered to find a house on rent in Singapore, such as your budget, the location (near your workplace and schools of your choice if bringing kids), and commuting needs.
Thinking of renting an apartment or room in Yishun or Woodlands? Here are some factors that might influence your decision.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
The North Region is home to industrial areas such as Sungei Kadut and Senoko, which host a wide variety of heavy engineering industries, such as Sembawang Shipyard, owner of the deepest dry dock in Southeast Asia, as well as many multinational corporations (MNCs), like Fortune 500 company Baxter Healthcare, Mitsubishi Electronics Manufacturing, and Seagate Singapore. Local microchip titan STATS ChipPAC and Senoko Power also have their head or branch offices and manufacturing facilities located in the Woodlands industrial areas.
The north of Singapore also allows easy access to the Causeway bridge linking Singapore to Malaysia, making it a logical place for companies requiring regular supplies from Malaysia, or logistics firms doing a lot of cross-border deliveries.
Because of the multitude of industries and businesses that call the North home, there are plenty of employment opportunities in this area. Consequently, residential areas in the area have grown to keep up with these workers who wish to live close to their workplaces to reduce their commute time and costs.
The end result is that Woodlands is today Singapore’s most populous town, with 250,290 residents living in the area.[4]
What does this mean to you if your future workplace is in Woodlands?
More rooms and apartments available for rent by volume, than anywhere else in Singapore.
That, on top of being further away from pricier regions nearer to the Central Business District, also means you can stretch your budget further and get more space and options to choose from.
What is true for same is true for Woodlands, applies to Yishun and Sembawang as well, which are neighbouring towns which add only 10 to 20 minutes to the daily commute. Yishun in particular is home to Yishun Industrial Park, which has well known companies such as Murata Manufacturing, Philips Lumileds, Agilent Technologies, Avago Technologies, ATS, ASM-Frontend, and STATS ChipPAC, Inc. as their tenants.
However, even if you don’t work in either Woodlands, Sembawang or Yishun, the north can still be an attractive region. As mentioned, a wider spread of choices and budgets there means you can stretch your rental budget further than perhaps anywhere else on the island – landed property rentals do tend to be much cheaper here, and owing to a large American expat community in this area, tend to have a friendlier feel too.
The opening of the North-South MRT line has improved public transport access to everywhere else. Residents of Woodlands are currently serviced by three Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations: Woodlands MRT Station in the centre, Marsiling MRT Station to the west, and Admiralty MRT Station to the east, while Yishun residents are served by Yishun MRT Station, Khatib MRT Station, and Springleaf MRT Station. And if what you save gives you the convenience of having your own private car, the expressways SLE, TPE and BKE will pretty much take you to anywhere in Singapore that you want to go.
YUMMY FOR THE TUMMY
Singapore is renowned as a food paradise! Many who move to Singapore to work are first overwhelmed by the amazing spread of culinary choices available, then learn to love the agony of choice. Some will miss the cuisine of their native countries.
Don’t worry, there’s something for everyone here, and there’s really no need to spend hours in the kitchen or take long train rides across town just to tuck into your hometown favourites. Most townships will have restaurants or simple hawker stalls that cater to every ethnicity, and are typically only a bus ride away from where you will stay.
Although by no means comprehensive, we do have some recommendations to help cure your homesick cravings if you are renting a room or apartment in Yishun or Woodlands:
Filipino cuisine
Little Topy
Blk 732 Yishun Avenue 5, Singapore 760732 Open on Saturdays and Sundays
Check out their yummy dishes here!
Only open Saturdays, but you get a wide variety of savoury grilled pinoy evergreens at decent prices. Their sizzling Sisig is delicious on its own and well worth a group visit with your colleagues! *note : they are currently in the midst of moving location. We will update this entry as soon as we have news!*
Sweeets Inc
768 Woodlands Ave 6, #01-26, Singapore 730768 Open 7.30am to 10pm
Sweeets Inc is only a few minutes away from Woodlands MRT station and offers some of the best Filipino cuisine in Singapore, serving a tantalizing collection of dishes that are suitable for group gatherings and casual dining. Their specialty waffles are recommended!
Chinese cuisine
Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye Steamboat Buffet 自助火锅店
Northpoint City
1 Northpoint Dr #B1-184 Singapore 769098
Steamboat buffet is this restaurant’s main selling point, and it’s also conveniently located in a large mall filled with other dining and shopping options. Open from 11am to 10pm everyday.
North Indian cuisine (vegetarian)
Komala’s Restaurant – Northpoint City
930 Yishun Ave, 2 Northpoint City, B2-10, The Food Mall, Singapore 769098
Mon to Sun 10.30 am – 10.00 pm.
A fast-food style Indian vegetarian restaurant, this is an easy and quick way to get your vegetarian fix of dhal on the go.
Cakes, Desserts & Coffee
Baker’s Brew Studio No. 6 Jalan Tampang Singapore 758950 Tel: +65 6635 7166 Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Nestled amongst a cluster of eateries opposite Sembawang Shopping Centre, Baker’s Brew Studio is a baking studio cum café concept. If you are into sweet treats, try the Earl Grey Lavender (S$8.80), Salted Caramel Chocolate (S$8.80).
Citrus By The Pool
3 Woodlands Street 13 Woodlands Swimming Complex Singapore 738600 Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm Sat and Sun: 9am – 11pm
Located in between Woodlands and Marsiling MRT Stations, Citrus By The Pool is a Halal-certified cafe situated within the premises of Woodlands Swimming Complex.
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY? NO WAY!
Once you find a place to rent in Singapore and get used to working and living here, you will enjoy knowing that most facilities and amenities are usually no more than half an hour from your residence. Check out these recreational options available in Yishun and Woodlands.
Jogging, cycling, rollerblading Like jogging, cycling or simply long walks? Singapore has an island-wide network of bike and jogging paths situated by picturesque rivers and canals that link you to the major parks in Singapore.
The Yishun Park Connector links the Khatib Bongsu Park Connector to the Canberra Park Connector, passing through the Simpang Kiri Park Connector and Canberra-Sembawang Park Connector, and running by Yishun Swimming Complex, while the Woodlands Park Connector cuts across the mid section of the Northern Explorer Loop, linking the Woodlands (SLE) Park Connector and the Ulu Sembawang Park Connector to the Sembawang Park Connector.
Our National Parks Board has a route recommended for the north region of Singapore that brings you in a loop of various noteworthy sights and sites in Yishun and Woodlands, such as Woodlands Waterfront, Lower Seletar Reservoir Park and Admiralty Park.
Look out for a DIY trail guide or mobile app from Nparks slated to come out in end-2018, which you can use it to explore the trail on your own, or participate in activities and programmes organised along the trail.
Rest & Relax @ Nearby Parks Yishun Park is a 13 ha park located in the centre of Yishun housing estate. Formerly a rubber estate, it is thickly covered with natural vegetation. Lower Seletar Reservoir Park is a small 3 ha park at the southern edge of the housing estate bordering the northern edge of the reservoir. There is a small water sports rental facility, and occasionally there are dragon boat competitions held there.
Nee Soon East Park is located opposite Block 407 Yishun Avenue 6. Facilities include a basketball court and fitness corner. Yishun Neighbourhood Park is bounded by Yishun Ave 2, Ave 7 and St 22 and features an open lawn for picnics and facilities such as fitness corners and playgrounds. Lastly, Yishun Pond Park is located along Yishun Central, in front of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, and features a spiral tower where visitors can get a bird’s eye view of the area.
Libraries There are national libraries within the townships of Woodlands (see Woodlands Regional Library) and Yishun (Yishun Public Library) as well. Membership for foreigners is relatively affordable, check this linkfor details on what you would need to pay.
Shopping & Movies Malls where you can relax and engage in a little retail therpay include Northpoint City, the largest shopping mall in the north of Singapore. It is located next to Yishun MRT station, and has GV Yishun, 10-screen cineplex just adjacent. Other smaller malls are located all around Yishun.
In Woodlands, Causeway Point shopping mall sports major tenants such as Cathay Cineplexes, Cold Storage, Metro, Food Republic, Bagus, Cotton On, Courts, Rubi Shoes, Mimosa and Uniqlo; and Woodlands North Plaza serve the needs of local town residents.
Short getaways
There is also the siren call of Johor Bahru, Malaysia, which is only a short trip away across the Causeway border. Many locals head there to deploy the higher purchasing power of the Singapore dollar, saving money on more affordable food, grocery and retail options as compared to Singapore.
GETTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE YOU DESERVE
Need to find a supermarket, bank, laundromat, remittance, post office, key duplication, clinics, or the nearest hospital? Our township designs ensure that local residents have easy and convenient access to essential services and healthcare at all times. Like everything else, these are often only minutes away on foot or by bus.
The easiest way to find these amenities is simply open up Google maps on your mobile phone and google for one that is nearest to you. Monthly necessities such as utilities and telephone bills can be paid at any 7-11 store, which is handily open twenty-four hours a day for your convenience.
READY TO RENT? CHECK TRUUUE OUT!
Download the Truuue Tenant app and let landlords find you today. It’s the easiest way to rent a room or apartment in Singapore. For landlords, list your unit for free on Truuue Landlord today!
Plus, you can use our super easy-to-use TRUrental app to coordinate your rental unit viewings, for free! And if you need to speak to a real person, simply call our hotline at 6591 8842 to access our Concierge services!
Rent happy with Truuue!
[1] http://uk.businessinsider.com/hsbc-countries-expats-best-careers-work-2016-12/?IR=T/#6-singapore-5
[2] https://qz.com/1215945/singapore-is-the-worlds-best-city-to-live-in-according-to-hsbcs-expat-explorer-survey/
[3] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-ranked-best-country-for-children-to-grow-up-in
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Region,_Singapore
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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The Failed Noisy Singer – Deadly Tenant Sins Story
In our endeavour to make rent in Singapore easy, improve the Truuue Rental App, and continuing our Halloween Series of “Tenants from Hell“, this week it is about NOISE!
Did you know according to a study led by NUS Professor, who heads the university’s masters in audiology programme and his students, Serangoon (73.1 decibels) is identified the noisiest places in Singapore followed by Orchard, Outram, Bukit Timah and Clementi?
This study also said an average outdoor sound level in Singapore throughout the day is equivalent to the noise made by a vacuum cleaner (69.4 decibels), which is more than the stipulated limit by the National Environmental Agency’s averaged recommendation of 67 decibels for an hour. A continuous exposure to noise at this level can cause hearing impairment.
Okay, so the short conclusion – Singapore is Noisy! Imagine, all day exposed to the average noise levels and coming home at night to loud neighbours. Here is Amanda’s story of:
The Failed Singer
“She converted my house into a KTV lounge!”
Excerpt from the interview with Amanda Koh.
Amanda – Honestly, although my tenant was noisy I did not suffer directly since I was not staying in the same block but I cannot say the same about the neighbours. They suffered miserably and it was very frustrating since not much could be done to get it sorted immediately.
Truuue – Can you elaborate?
Amanda – I rented my Bukit Timah HDB a year back to a young lady, who was doing some acting courses from a nearby college. She seems like a serious girl, quite focused on her career and I was very happy my place would be in good hands.
Truuue – When did your problem start?
Amanda – She was always noisy but I got to know about it a few months later. I grew up in the same place as it belonged to my parents. Although I have moved out now I have several friends in the neighbourhood who keep in touch.
I met one of my friends and she amusingly told me that my tenant is infamous among the neighbours due to her terrible singing skills. She seems to have frequent KTV nights with a bunch of friends and they are quite pathetic talents.
Well, I thought it was a silly joke and ignored.
Truuue – Someone else complained?
Amanda – I think things went out of proportion when one of the elderly neighbours directly reached out to my tenant to reduce the volume a bit in the wee hours of the morning and ended up having an argument.
Next thing I knew that the other residents are petitioning to have my tenant evicted.
Before it could have been worst I intervened and politely asked her to leave the place.
To my relief, she left after a month but I really had to make an effort to reach out to the neighbours and pacify them. Each one of them told me their pains – loud parties, shouting, singing, screaming, etc.
At one point I felt that I am lucky not to be staying there but then I felt quite guilty to have misjudged my tenant and gave her my flat without much questioning.
Truuue – You could have suggested them to opt for CMC (Community Mediation Centre), where a trained mediator could have intervened and tried to lead the conversation to a mutually agreeable solution.
If that failed, the last option would have been CDRT (Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals) to resolve the issue permanently or the easiest is next time list with us – we verify the tenants for you and will also act as the mediator so you don’t have to ever have difficult conversations with your tenants!
At TRUrental we are committed to delivering the best experience suited for both landlord and tenant. We care about all the parties in the property transaction; we always aim for the WIN-WIN outcome. As you are reading this, our team is working relentlessly to find a suitable solution for these issues. To know more about our mission, follow us and download our app. Enjoy peace of mind for your next rental!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Landlord’s know-it-all guide to Security Deposit and Damage Recovery
You own a house and want to rent it out. A landlord’s position and responsibilities are no less complex than that of a tenant. By that virtue having a property to rent in Singapore or finding a suitable tenant for your house comes with its own set of hiccups.
One of the most common sources of the tenant-landlord dispute is calculating or quantifying the rental property damage and its recovery from the tenant at the end of the tenancy.
Although “Renters Insurance” will shield you from most disputes, in this article we share best practices, possible scenarios of damages and applicable charges to help you landlords have no tenant horror stories or unpleasant experiences.
Be Professional
Being professional is the first step in being a good landlord.
To have good tenants, you need to ensure that you are professional in your approach; And this starts at an early stage of your Tenant-landlord relationship.
Showcasing actual premise pictures while advertising your house to your prospective tenants,
Including reasonable yet through and clear terms and conditions in the tenancy agreement,
Doing your due diligence and perform a detailed background check to pre-empt any legal hassles. Ensuring a smooth move-in process and
Most importantly engaging and initiating a personal connection with your tenants can go a long way!
Dependable and trusted tenants would ensure that you have minimum disputes and even if you do have them, they are amicably solved.
Tenancy Agreement Clauses and inclusions to safeguard and set precedence over most disputes
1. Digital Proof of all items in your property
Ideally, take pictures and/or video of the property, including all white goods. Convert these into an inventory list of items allowed to use during the tenancy period and get it signed off by the tenants during the hand over process.
In case of unforeseen circumstances, these photos and videos will come in handy to initiate or mitigate legal proceedings in property damage recovery disputes.
Typically physical or digital evidence as such helps answer some of the standard legal questions such as:
Are you able to show the condition of the premises when the tenancy started and how it compares when the tenancy ended?
Do you have evidence that the damages were caused by the Tenant?
If there were damaged or missing items, do you have evidence to show that the rectification/replacement cost is reasonable?
Have you taken into account fair wear and tear when claiming compensation for the damage to the property?
Here is a list of items and their probable maintenance costs that you can claim from your tenants in case of more than the usual wear and tear:
General cleaning of the house (S$300-S$400)
Furniture Maintenance and Repair (S$200-S$300)
Electrical Items (S$100 and above – depends on how old or new was your appliance)
House painting (S$1500 and above – depends on the size of your unit)
Floor cleaning (S$4 per square feet)
Removing abandoned furniture (S$100-S$300)
The prices given are indicative in nature and should be validated by your preferred contractor to estimate the damage.
In most cases as a landlord and going by the standard agreement and tenancy law, you can use the tenant security deposit to recover the property damage costs.
2. Minor Repair & Other Maintenance Clause
This clause mentions the minor damages to the rental property that occurs due to the usual wear and tear over a period of the tenant occupation of the property including any replacements to the premises or furniture up to a certain limit
The existing expense range is between S$150 to S$300 and states any expense above and beyond this needs a landlord’s approval.
Depending on how detailed is your clause, as a landlord, you can reserve the right not to pay to repair the damage which was caused due to the tenant’s own negligence and also include your preferred vendors for repair if any.
Do make sure you define or mutually agree with your tenant on what constitutes “normal wear & tear and beyond” before filing your claims.
Having said that, it is always advisable to be humane and prompt in dealing with repairs or replacements of any quantum within a reasonable limit thus maintaining a healthy relationship and avoid disputes.
3. Clear Rent (or Utilities, if applicable), miscellaneous fees payment schedule.
A typical rental agreement states clearly “when” in terms of number of days (usually first 7 days of the month) and how much rent is due each month.
The tenant is obligated to fulfil these conditions stipulated in the contract.
However, there might be certain exceptions where the tenant may fail to meet the time deadline due to personal or business reasons.
While it is advisable to be considerate in lieu of a genuine cause, a clause stating a penalty charge or interest on recurring instances always helps.
The standard interest rate is 12% to 20% per annum of the outstanding amount.
Do note as a landlord you are liable to give written notice to your tenant as a best practice and keep your tenant informed about any bank account number change for all payments immediately.
4. Access to your premise Clause.
A standard agreement always has several “Access to Premises” clauses, allowing you to enter the premises for a minor repair, viewing arrangements especially at the end of the tenancy tenure or selling of property.
Best practice will be to agree on a mutual time for viewing arrangements and/or keep an open communication and respect each others time and judge the need of the hour to execute your stated purpose.
5. En-Bloc Clause
The En-Bloc clause can only be exercised by you as a landlord. Unlike most other clauses, this one serves to protect your interest when your development (the whole condominium) go on sale and you need to end the lease prematurely without having to compensate the tenant.
Although as always, the best practice is to include a notice period and be considerate in your approach.
6. Diplomatic Clause and Reimbursement Clause (Early Termination of Lease)
With Diplomatic clause be sure to include a Reimbursement Clause.
Let’s start with definitions.
A typical Diplomatic clause states “Provided the Tenant has occupied the premises for a minimum period of TWELVE (12) months, the Tenant may exercise the diplomatic clause by notifying the Landlord TWO (02) calendar month notice in writing of the Tenant’s intention to terminate the Tenancy or TWO (02) month rent in lieu of such notice if the occupier of the premises and employee of the Tenant shall be required by the Tenant to leave Singapore permanently on a job transfer or if the said occupier’s employment with the said Tenant is terminated for any reason whatsoever. Provided always that the documentary evidence shall accompany the written notice providing the event relayed up by the Tenant in the said written notice. Any pre-mature termination that does not satisfy the conditions to exercise the Diplomatic Clause will result in forfeiture of the Security Deposit, and the Landlord will reserve the rights for further compensation.”
This simply put protects your tenant in case they lose their job or need to terminate the tenancy agreement mid-term.
Reimbursement Clause allows you as a landlord to share the loss of mid-term tenancy termination by recovering the agent’s (in case you have engaged one) commission in prorated value.
We are Truuue charge the lowest fee in the industry (S$99/successful transaction) if you close your tenancy with us. We reckon this will be your biggest salvage in eventful circumstances of early lease termination.
7. Tenancy Renewal Clause
This is an important one, especially if you have found a keeper!
Add it to your TA to enable your tenant to extend the lease for another term (usually a year) with a two-month prior notice.
Once mutually agreed, you can prepare a contract for extension based on the prior clauses. Grounds of negotiations always exist in any case with respect to rent as well as other conditions.
8. Dispute settlement
In situations, when a decent conversation, mediation or Alternative Dispute Resolution does not solve your difference, you may want to involve the Singapore Ministry of Law and its various associations to help parties like you in troubled times.
Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE), Singapore Mediation Center (SMC) and Community Mediation Centre (CMC) are some of the groups that help resolve landlord/tenancy disputes. You can always approach the SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNALS if you are planning legal action.
Under the Ministry of law CSC is a less formal conflict resolution body and it only costs $5 from the complainant, while SMC needs each party to pay a non-refundable filing fee of $267.50 (inclusive of GST) for administrative and support services alone, above and beyond the mediation fees (Starts from S$963 to S$4601).
We at Truuue believe transparency and mutual trust are key to ensuring a hassle-free and pleasant experience and encourage all to be safe yet cautious when renting your apartment.
Of course, you can always “Don’t Worry – Rent Happy” with Truuue and benefit from our excellent customer service, home service facilities and insurance which comes along without any extra cost.
We are Truuue-ly about U, U and Only U!
Looking to rent? Truuue Tenant (also known as TRUrental Tenant) is a new generation prop-tech platform which can help you find a property on rent in Singapore as easily and painlessly as possible. Download our Truuue Tenant App here! Best of all, NO AGENT FEES! Same for the landlord!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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Mr. Forgetful’s Amnesia or Just Denial – Scary Rental Scams Story
How difficult is it to remember your own house condition? What is working, what is not – Especially the one which brings in a decent rent every month?
Well, looks like, for Shamir, his landlord was completely oblivious of all things wrong in his own apartment on rent in Singapore. Not in a pleasant situation to be in eh?
6 months left for his lease to expire, Shamir is using Truuue for his next abode, “It isn’t too early to start looking, although in my situation I am almost forced to [Thanks to Mr Forgetful!! ], I wish many landlords will start advertising much in advance as well!”
Mr. Forgetful“Amnesia or just denial, no idea! He never accepted that I fixed so many things!”
Excerpt from the interview with Shamir Hamid.
Shamir – I was aware that the HDB unit I rented six months back had to go through some renovation to be livable. However I was in a hurry and I wanted a place in the lower floors as my parents, who are also staying with me, had some specifications about that.
This place met all the requirements except I was worried about the worn out appliances might stop anytime and the overall status of the kitchen and bathroom fittings was quite dated. I had a quick chat with the landlord, who seems to be a reasonable person and he agreed that there was a need for some maintenance. He assured that he would fix most of it before we move in.
Truuue – Did he fix everything?
Shamir – Oh no, far from that. Probably a few paint jobs were done, just patches of fresh paint, nothing much. Apart from that, I saw everything was as it was before.
I immediately informed him when I moved in and he reacted very strangely. He seemed to be totally unaware of the issues that we discussed earlier and I had to explain right from the beginning. I even sent him some of the photographs to explain and remind.
He said that he will fix them but when nothing happened after a week, I called him again. And the same thing happened again!
Truuue – He could not remember about the fixing the damages?
Shamir – Yes! He acted as if he had no clue and I was extremely frustrated by then. I told him that taps in kitchen and shower panel were leaking I would be paying from my pocket to fix it immediately. I also told him that I would adjust that with the next month’s rent.
Truuue – He agreed?
Shamir – Yes, and I spent about $200 to fix some of the things in the kitchen and bathroom. Informed him everything before fixing those and sent him a copy of the receipts.
When I paid my rent after deducting the expenses, he immediately called back and asked for an explanation. When I reminded him about our discussion he completely declined that and mentioned some of the things I claimed to have fixed were actually replaced by him before I moved in. He was sure that those were unnecessarily replaced.
Truuue – So have you left this place.
Shamir – Oh no! I cannot but I have stayed only for 6 months and I have a 12-month’s contract. If I leave now I would not get a refund of my deposit!
Truuue – Apart from using the
TRUrental
App for next time, where we do the due diligence on your behalf, you can always approach the Consumer Association of Singapore (CASE), Singapore Mediation Center (SMC) and Community Mediation Centre (CMC) are some of the groups that help resolve landlord/tenancy disputes. You can always approach the SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNALS if you are planning legal action. [Truuue shared its latest “
Landlord’s know-it-all guide to Security Deposit and Damage Recovery
” for reference too]
At Truuue we are committed to delivering the best experience suited for both landlord and tenant while you rent in Singapore. We care about all the parties in the property transaction; we always aim for the WIN-WIN outcome. As you are reading this, our team is working relentlessly to find a suitable solution for these issues. To know more about our mission, follow us and download our app. Enjoy peace of mind for your next rental!
Original Content available at https://blog.truuue.com
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