Singapore Expats

I rent a master bedroom in condo and my twin brother is coming from 12,000kms far from me to pay me a visit and he will stay only a few days(5max)

I agree No visitors,ok for that but your family!!!!!
is it normal or just because the local singapourean landlord try to pump some extra money from you??????

I really enjoy the welcome of my landlord=$$$$$$$$$

I have never heard that in my entire life from anyone in any country.
And I have to pay in advance in case I'm a naughty boy

Pufffffffffffff

If the person is not normally in your household or was not included in the rental agreement, then the landlord is perfectly within his/her rights. Afraid you neglected to read the contract or at least understand what it meant before you signed it. You'll definitely be more aware the next time I'll bet. A family member who does not normally reside there is still a visitor.

Okay but 20-bucks a day is still a fraction compared to a hotel and since you no doubt rent the master room, including utilities i would say the landlord is only covering the extra cost for electric and water for your brother taking showers in those days.

I think its quite fair to be honest, otherwise the landlord is also paying for your brother to stay.

From a Landlords point of view, it's extra cost! try to negociate the price down to 15$ a day. Singaporeans normally charge a higher price, because they expect complaints, and bargaining.

No discussion means his profit rise's, hit him with some facts, utility bills, TV, Shower. Although 20$ a day is bloody cheap lodging. Depends also on how long he's going to stay with you to get discount!

Did you know, that some rooms have 40 beds, so he can share, with them for around 200$ a month, 1 toilet, and 1 shower

ksl wrote:From a Landlords point of view, it's extra cost! try to negociate the price down to 15$ a day. Singaporeans normally charge a higher price, because they expect complaints, and bargaining.

No discussion means his profit rise's, hit him with some facts, utility bills, TV, Shower. Although 20$ a day is bloody cheap lodging. Depends also on how long he's going to stay with you to get discount!

Did you know, that some rooms have 40 beds, so he can share, with them for around 200$ a month, 1 toilet, and 1 shower

Heck yeah! Negotiate with him. Then let him tell you to just have your brother go stay in a Hotel. Defo cut the nose off to spite the face. The contract said NO VISITORS and he's letting you have a visitor and a rather cheap rate. You'll probably find you brother spending 150/nite in a hotel quick time.

Anybody wanna bet the landlord's been burned before by someone subletting?

ksl wrote:From a Landlords point of view, it's extra cost! try to negociate the price down to 15$ a day. Singaporeans normally charge a higher price, because they expect complaints, and bargaining.

No discussion means his profit rise's, hit him with some facts, utility bills, TV, Shower. Although 20$ a day is bloody cheap lodging. Depends also on how long he's going to stay with you to get discount!

Did you know, that some rooms have 40 beds, so he can share, with them for around 200$ a month, 1 toilet, and 1 shower

Marginal cost will not be $20 a day! Okay I know being in Singapore means water is pricey but $20 is too much to be justified as higher marginal cost of renting out. It is not like the OP's twin brother gets a separate room. So definitely negotiate.

However as SMS stated, the landlord is perfectly within his/her rights and could also refuse to let him stay there altogether.

Let me ask this - does this mean that if the landlord also has friend's over whether they stay over night or not but still use electricity, water etc that he will give you a discount that month on the utilities? it should go both ways right?

macaroonie wrote:Let me ask this - does this mean that if the landlord also has friend's over whether they stay over night or not but still use electricity, water etc that he will give you a discount that month on the utilities? it should go both ways right?

Who ever said life was fair? We also don't even know if the landlord is staying there. But at the end of the day, it's his ball and it's his stadium so he can make the rules.

20 bucks times 5 days (max) is not going to amount to a lot of money.

I'd say the landlord has every reason to charge a little more if the contract stipulates no visitors and he's cutting you some slack on it.
Pay up, be happy and get away cheap. That's what I'd do

either S$20/day or hotel. if the landlord dont put up the extra charges, then every tenant will be bringing in their boyfriends, girlfriends, orchard tower friends and families for sleep over!

macaroonie wrote:Let me ask this - does this mean that if the landlord also has friend's over whether they stay over night or not but still use electricity, water etc that he will give you a discount that month on the utilities? it should go both ways right?

Numbnutz.

Landlord would lease the room for a fixed price, including utilities, based on an estimate of how much water/gas/electric one person can use.

If the landlord has a guest come over, and the utility price is higher, effectively the landlord is ALREADY paying the extra for their friend to stay over. So, if the landlord is paying for his friend it is more than fair for a tenent to pay for theirs.

$20 a day is more than what would be used in utilities, yes, BUT the difference between $50 or $75 and $100 is not worth arguing about, for putting the landlord at a further inconvenience...... on some point he doesn't even have to agree to in the first place!

Yep SMS you are right, it's his ball and his court... and this is how things work here.. so i agree, best to cut our losses

Though it is rather calculating... seems that most things here revolve around money in some way...

That shouldn't surprise. Most expats come here because of the money as well.

ScoobyDoes wrote: $20 a day is more than what would be used in utilities, yes, BUT the difference between $50 or $75 and $100 is not worth arguing about, for putting the landlord at a further inconvenience...... on some point he doesn't even have to agree to in the first place!

and in real life, it translate to a couple of beers less per day, to the OP my advice is just to drink 3 or 4 beers less (at a hawker) or one beer less at a normal pub and you wont see it that bad.