Singapore Expats

I am relocating to Singapore in late Feb and wondering whether it is worth while using an agent to find accommodation? Especially because I will only have a few days in Singapore before I am due to start work.

From what I understand they charge 1/2 of your first month's rent. Is this cost payable up front or only once they secure you a room???



Thanks,

Gemma.

Dubs wrote:I am relocating to Singapore in late Feb and wondering whether it is worth while using an agent to find accommodation? Especially because I will only have a few days in Singapore before I am due to start work.

From what I understand they charge 1/2 of your first month's rent. Is this cost payable up front or only once they secure you a room???



Thanks,

Gemma.

Using an agent is not a choice it is a compulsion here in Singapore as owners dont advertise vacancies in any other way other than contacting their agents. Even if you look at internet classifieds or newspaper classifieds they are all posted by agents. So whether you like it or not you have to go through agents.

I think being a property agent is the most sought after career for Singaporeans. That is the only job they can do without any effort and without fear of foreigners taking away their jobs.

They all travels in cars and if you ask them how to come by MRT, they tell you "I dont know Lah! I just drive there"

I don't use an agent but the Landlord does, this way I never pay any agent's commission/fees etc

Well, you would need to use an agent...unless of course you bumped into someone holding a placard that says "I got a place to rent"...

Jokes apart, we were initially informed that for Rentals above $2500 you need not pay a comission, however this seems to have changed and as of now you'll need to pay a commission to the agent if you're renting anything below $3000. As to the value, its half a month's rent for a 12 month lease period and a full month's rent if you lease the propoerty for 2 years. (I have been told that in some cases you may not have to pay if you rent the place for 2 years but that's very subjective).

Goodluck with the househunting!

PS: The agent's commission is to be paid once you'r4e done with formalities like the agreement and stuff.

is it necessary to go through an agent on renewing the lease?

No need agent. Depend on where you want to rent the place. Usually if you want to deal direct with the owner and skip the agent fee you can go to the nearby MRT station notice board there are alot of direct owner contact to call.

Hi everyone - just a twist on this. Our LL is based in HKG, and we do not have his agent's address, nor his address in HKG. We're up shortly, and would like to renew. If we use OUR agent to do the negotiation (given he has the details of the LL agent), should we/do we pay a fee? Note, rent is > $3500.

Thanks in advance, Mr. P