Singapore Expats

Hi,
Our contract expires first week of March and need the apartment for another 6 months. My landlord wants us to sign a one year contract with at least $1000 more than what we are paying. Can you please let me know where I can find shorterm/6 month lease apartmetns. My budget is approximately $5K. We are now in Bt. Timah and anywhere close to orchard or bt. timah would be preferable since my son goes to SAS.
Thank you for your replies.
PM

Can't you extend with your LL? Try to split the difference and counter with $500/month increase for the extension period. Serviced Apartments start around $6,500, plus the cost of moving -- it would be better to stay where you are, even if it's a bit more, better than the cost of moving.

Thank you. My agent says it's not worth it and rents have come down so much. We should look for outside apartments. I am not sure if I can directly talk to the landlord. I never had any problems and he is always been nice to us.

I would take the agents advice to find another apartment with a grain of salt since the commission would be a motivation for the agent. Try talk directly with the owner if you can. I'm sure he/she is aware of the economic climate and would be happy to keep tenants that have proven reliable

We were in a similar situation, lease expired in January and we knew we were leaving in June. I'd try to work something out with your present LL, because you have very little chance of some unknown LL offering you a 6 month lease. You can take a year lease and pay the LL for the 6 months that you're not even in the country. See what you can work out. Good luck.

lsing wrote:Thank you. My agent says it's not worth it and rents have come down so much. We should look for outside apartments. I am not sure if I can directly talk to the landlord. I never had any problems and he is always been nice to us.

Your LL says rents are coming down, but in the same breath won't consider a $500 increase for the 6 months you want to extend? That sounds like mann from heaven to me. Ah well, they are all nutters, I swear. Six month apartments are very hard to come by -- I'd find a Serviced Apartment as a 'fall back' ASAP.

What size place are you looking for? condo or house? (I may be leaving in March, and you could take over my lease of a 2 bedroom in Robertson Quay.)

I am VERY sure that you will be able to find a convenient short term rental. many, many developers are in the situation of having bought enblocked properties which at this time make no sense to knock down and redevelop. So they are renting them out for short term leases.

I know of two such developments that will meet your needs - Lincoln Lodge at Khiang Guan Avenue in Novena (next to United Square) and Fairways at Telok Blangah Road (near Vivocity).

You will probably have to search for the marketing agent who is handling the leasing as chances are individaul agents will not be bothered about this kind of business.

Google a little bit and see!

in addition to Addadude's suggestion, Leedon Heights offer terms from 6 months to Dec 2010. GL

Don't miss the Classifieds here, lots of short-term/take-over leases listed:

http://classifieds.singaporeexpats.com/ ... hp/cat/120

You could take a one year lease but in the tenancy agreement add a clause for minimum stay period as 6 months. And after 5 months you can give a 1 month notice and vacate.

This is exactly what I have done. Although the owner was hesistant initially, He agreed once I said I was ready to increase the notice period to 2 months. Mind you this is different from the diplomacy clause. Its called the minimum stay period. Normally condos that have a 2 year lease have a minimum stay period of 1 year.

Anything can be done depending on demand and supply and good negotiation