Singapore Expats

I want to rent a one-bedroom apartment for three months. Now, in the US, it comes with a living room and a bathroom. In Singapore, I have to share the living room with other people? What is common about the commom room?

I have lived in US, Japan, Thailand, and never heard of the common room concept, which can be found in the classified section of this forem. Thank you.

Yes, its a common room you all share, like a living room. Really, never heard of this before? Didn't your dorm room in college have a common room in the floor?

It's like a living room in an apartment isn't it?

Super_Star wrote:It's like a living room in an apartment isn't it?

That's what it sounds like from my reading about living in Singapore. If it says "common", it means you share it with other residents. Your bedroom is private, but that's about it. Man, that is rough. Might be okay for students, but most professionals probably would want a private living room. It would feel strange if you're watch TV, and a stranger just sits right next to you on the sofa to enjoy "Gone with the Wind" with you.

jaroenr wrote:It would feel strange if you're watch TV, and a stranger just sits right next to you on the sofa to enjoy "Gone with the Wind" with you.

Yeah, especially if the stranger has a problem with "wind"!

jaroenr wrote:I want to rent a one-bedroom apartment for three months. Now, in the US, it comes with a living room and a bathroom. In Singapore, I have to share the living room with other people? What is common about the commom room?

I have lived in US, Japan, Thailand, and never heard of the common room concept, which can be found in the classified section of this forem. Thank you.

What does the advertisement say in the classified exactly? Do you have the link...? The Zzzz monsters don't allow me to surf and "investigate" on what you have mentioned. Goodnight... Zzzzz

jaroenr,

It would appear that your are confusing definitions. You have said you want an 1 bedroom apartment. Fair enough. These are rare animals here in Singapore. These are normally called studio apartments here but not like in the US where a studio apartment is usually a single room doubling as a bedroom/living/dining room with a kitchenette and bath.

There are 1 bedroom units here but as I said, are very rare as they are not practical on a island with limited space. Flat (Apartment) sharing is where a multi-bedroom unit is rented out piecemeal. This would mean the renter would have either a Master Bedroom (with attached Bathroom) and usage of the common/living room & Kitchen) or a Bedroom with usage of the common/living room, kitchen and common bathroom (normally 3 bedroom units have two Normal Bedrooms and a common bathroom usually off the kitchen and a Master Bedroom with an attached bathroom which is on accessable through the master bedroom. This is quite popular for single folks who are just arriving to the island and are cost conscious until they get a lay of the land or don't mind the community style of living. I grant you it's definitely not for everybody but with the cost of housing here it is a very attractive proposition paying between 500~800 month instead of paying 3~5K per month.

You may also hear the living room / common room referred to as a Hall as well. A 3+1 actually means 3 bedrooms & 1 hall (a bit redundant the +1) although there are various interpretations of this depending on who it is. In the early days of the HDB the Hall & Kitchen was all one so I think as it became a separate space the hall is now referred to as the +1.

Even "housing terms" here get so complicated! LOL