Singapore Expats

Hi all

My agent (tenant's agent) has asked that I pay for the agent's fees too. She says that she's been spending a lot of time looking for properties and organizing viewings. We've seen a number of properties > 10 I think

So she reasons after factoring co-broking and further split of the remainder with her company, the residual is probably not worth the effort and costs (petrol, etc..)

I've read in forums that the tenant should never pay as it's illegal. But I've found the blog below that says if the rent is <3.5K, the tenant is to pay the tenant's agent

I'm confused, please kindly advise

Of course if I choose to act as a rational economic man, I'd just go to the landlord's agent and negotiate myself? No? Yes?

Did you sign a 2-yr lease?

I have only heard of co-paying when signing shorter leases, but with a standard lease the landlord will pay 1 month's worth of rent as a fee to the agent (or rather both agents will split this between them).

aster wrote:Did you sign a 2-yr lease?

I have only heard of co-paying when signing shorter leases, but with a standard lease the landlord will pay 1 month's worth of rent as a fee to the agent (or rather both agents will split this between them).

Haven't sign anything, not even an offer has been made...my rational mind is saying I should go directly to the landlord's agent

just tell your agent you don't wish to pay fees and get it from the other agent/LL.

LivinginSG wrote:Hi all

My agent (tenant's agent) has asked that I pay for the agent's fees too. She says that she's been spending a lot of time looking for properties and organizing viewings. We've seen a number of properties > 10 I think

So she reasons after factoring co-broking and further split of the remainder with her company, the residual is probably not worth the effort and costs (petrol, etc..)

I've read in forums that the tenant should never pay as it's illegal. But I've found the blog below that says if the rent is <3.5K, the tenant is to pay the tenant's agent

I'm confused, please kindly advise

Of course if I choose to act as a rational economic man, I'd just go to the landlord's agent and negotiate myself? No? Yes?

Did you sign any agreement with her before engaging? If so, that's what you're legally obliged to do. If not, then everything you're reading is all guidelines but not law. (e.g., her splitting with LL, arbitrary amounts like $3500 being where one person pays vs the other person, etc).

I would personally figure out how it actually cost her to service you, how much she's getting from the LL, and how happy you are with the service and come to an arrangement based on that.

LivinginSG wrote:

aster wrote:Did you sign a 2-yr lease?

I have only heard of co-paying when signing shorter leases, but with a standard lease the landlord will pay 1 month's worth of rent as a fee to the agent (or rather both agents will split this between them).

Haven't sign anything, not even an offer has been made...my rational mind is saying I should go directly to the landlord's agent

But were you discussing a 2-yr lease or was it known from the outset that the lease will be shorter?

I don't see why you should pay. Just change the agent.

I've noticed a few HDB rental ads on a different site (with a central asian themed name) that explicitly state "TENANTS - STANDARD COMMISSION APPLIES".

zzm9980 wrote:

LivinginSG wrote:Hi all

My agent (tenant's agent) has asked that I pay for the agent's fees too. She says that she's been spending a lot of time looking for properties and organizing viewings. We've seen a number of properties > 10 I think

So she reasons after factoring co-broking and further split of the remainder with her company, the residual is probably not worth the effort and costs (petrol, etc..)

I've read in forums that the tenant should never pay as it's illegal. But I've found the blog below that says if the rent is <3.5K, the tenant is to pay the tenant's agent

I'm confused, please kindly advise

Of course if I choose to act as a rational economic man, I'd just go to the landlord's agent and negotiate myself? No? Yes?

Did you sign any agreement with her before engaging? If so, that's what you're legally obliged to do. If not, then everything you're reading is all guidelines but not law. (e.g., her splitting with LL, arbitrary amounts like $3500 being where one person pays vs the other person, etc).

I would personally figure out how it actually cost her to service you, how much she's getting from the LL, and how happy you are with the service and come to an arrangement based on that.

Didn't sign any agreement whatsoever

aster wrote:

LivinginSG wrote:

aster wrote:Did you sign a 2-yr lease?

I have only heard of co-paying when signing shorter leases, but with a standard lease the landlord will pay 1 month's worth of rent as a fee to the agent (or rather both agents will split this between them).

Haven't sign anything, not even an offer has been made...my rational mind is saying I should go directly to the landlord's agent

But were you discussing a 2-yr lease or was it known from the outset that the lease will be shorter?

Discussed re 2 yr lease...