Singapore Expats

Hi All,

Looking for some advice with a problem I'm having with my landlord. He is subletting a room to me and I recently had several batches of clothes ruined in his washing machine, despite me reporting this after the first incident and him claiming to have fixed the problem several times. In the end I have had to replace $500+ worth of clothes that were irreparably ruined.

He says that even if the clothes were ruined in the machine this is not something a landlord would reimburse for? In the UK I know the landlord would be liable for damages but how does it work here? I reported the problem several times but he got me confused with other tenants, and so for some reason kept telling me the problem was fixed when it wasn't, major communication breakdown

There is nothing explicitly written into the contract so I'm not sure what are the standard tenancy rights?

ETA: typo

1. There are no tenants rights in Singapore other than what has been agreed upon in the contract you signed.

2. If the landlord washed and ruined the clothes for you, or if he gave you assurance (and you can prove this) that the machine is o.k. and won't spoil your clothes any more, you might have a case. But if he doesn't pay voluntarily, suing him would cost you far more than the clothes are worth. (In Singapore the losing party does NOT have to pay the winner's legal costs!)

3. In all other cases, it's just bad luck. Get on with life!

just a curious question - when you suspected the washing machine was bonkers, did you still go ahead and drop all your clothes in one go and test your theory ??

Well, as a matter of fact, I had a tenant in my previous place, and he had the odd habit (maybe for those from the south asian country) or washing his carpets in the Washing machine, and I always, put a towel or something in one wash and see if it comes off full of dust off before dropping the rest ...

You are a lazy bum, my lord, and I rest my case (that was in jest .. )

When you say ruined, do you mean ripped, torn or what! If colour has run, that's your hard luck!

Generally if the washing machine is classified has a fixture, they would be liable, however washing machines are not fixtures in Singapore, and the tenants responsibility in my opinion. Besides you have no rights here in Singapore, other than what is in the contract.

buy cheaper clothes. they are more robust in a washing machine.

apollo_69 wrote:Hi All,

Looking for some advice with a problem I'm having with my landlord. He is subletting a room to me and I recently had several batches of clothes ruined in his washing machine, despite me reporting this after the first incident and him claiming to have fixed the problem several times. In the end I have had to replace $500+ worth of clothes that were irreparably ruined.

He says that even if the clothes were ruined in the machine this is not something a landlord would reimburse for? In the UK I know the landlord would be liable for damages but how does it work here? I reported the problem several times but he got me confused with other tenants, and so for some reason kept telling me the problem was fixed when it wasn't, major communication breakdown

There is nothing explicitly written into the contract so I'm not sure what are the standard tenancy rights?

ETA: typo

Thats the funniest ever tantrum I have heard.
Now I know why many companies have disclaimers on their products. "Our liability limits to the replacement of the product and not any damage caused due its malfunctions".

There used to be a big joke about Mc Donalds writing "Caution: Hot" on all their cups after a lady sued them for millions of dollars, after she spilled coffee on herself, for not warning her.