Singapore Expats

My landlord bought my condo May 2010 and has been trying to sell it for the last 6 months.

We had many people coming over with the landlord's agent to view the property. We always cooperated.

Lately the market appears to be picking up and also the number of viewings.

It is rarely in the week when my wife is at home; most viewings are in the weekend.

Now the agent is pressing us for fixed time slots on Saturdays AND Sundays between 2pm and 4pm.

I told the agent off last Easter Sunday. She complained to the landlord who is now pushing me as well for slots on both weekend days.

What's rights do I have?

I am OK to cooperate but it has been going on for 6 months and getting too much. It affects my privacy (whole families going through my bedroom/closets several times a day) and spoils my weekends as we can not go out when we want.

Most leases, if the issue is addressed at all, permit viewings only for the re-rental after you move out.

Meet them halfway. Tell them you have no obligation to let anyone in while you have tenancy rights. Tell them that for $200 per hour, you will make the place available. Win-Win.

there should be a sale with tenancy clause within your tenancy agreement for your rental.


SALE WITH TENANCY

During the currency of this tenancy, to allow the Landlord and/or the Landlord’s representatives, at all reasonable times and by prior appointment to bring any interested parties to view the said premises in the event of a prospective sale thereof. The said premises shall be sold subject to this tenancy.

--

You are not obligated to be house bound every saturday and sunday to just to allow viewings.

Suggestion would be to allow them one fixed weekend day timing to view and one fixed weekday timing for viewing.

Tell the landlord directly that it is unreasonable for him/her to expect you to be home every weekend afternoon.

You have a right to Quiet Enjoyment of the property. Do not feel in any way forced to accept viewings/intrusions that prejudice that right.

SpeedWeed wrote:During the currency of this tenancy, to allow the Landlord and/or the Landlord’s representatives, at all reasonable times and by prior appointment to bring any interested parties to view the said premises in the event of a prospective sale thereof. The said premises shall be sold subject to this tenancy.

Do you have a copy of my tenancy agreement?!?!?

I had a look at my contract and I have the exact same sentence in it!

Thanks for the good replies. Much appreciated. I now know how to handle the situation.

My landlord had a viewing at my apartment last weekend on June 25. He volunteered to knock $50 off my rent for viewing #1.

This weekend, my landlord is requesting another viewing on July 3. Should I request that my rent is reduced another $50 for viewing #2? What is customary here?

lisalisadc wrote:My landlord had a viewing at my apartment last weekend on June 25. He volunteered to knock $50 off my rent for viewing #1.

This weekend, my landlord is requesting another viewing on July 3. Should I request that my rent is reduced another $50 for viewing #2? What is customary here?

Read you lease.

lisalisadc wrote:My landlord had a viewing at my apartment last weekend on June 25. He volunteered to knock $50 off my rent for viewing #1.

This weekend, my landlord is requesting another viewing on July 3. Should I request that my rent is reduced another $50 for viewing #2? What is customary here?

Doesn't seem like it's really the practice as, for example, our past and current tenancy agreements didn't have such a clause.

It, however, would be nice that you get 50 bucks off for every viewing.

Wow, I never got my payments docked because of viewings......generally we would only allow Sundays between 1 and 4pm depending on what we were doing etc.

We would normally be at home or at least around on Sundays, maybe just eating, playing or around the pool so not a major problem.

Once a week for a couple of hours is usually fine, i would say.

JR8 wrote:

lisalisadc wrote:My landlord had a viewing at my apartment last weekend on June 25. He volunteered to knock $50 off my rent for viewing #1.

This weekend, my landlord is requesting another viewing on July 3. Should I request that my rent is reduced another $50 for viewing #2? What is customary here?

Read you lease.

It's amazing how many people don't do this isn't it? Asking for advice without reading what they've signed

JayCee wrote:

JR8 wrote:

lisalisadc wrote:My landlord had a viewing at my apartment last weekend on June 25. He volunteered to knock $50 off my rent for viewing #1.

This weekend, my landlord is requesting another viewing on July 3. Should I request that my rent is reduced another $50 for viewing #2? What is customary here?

Read you lease.

It's amazing how many people don't do this isn't it? Asking for advice without reading what they've signed

According to the Tenancy Agreement, the LL and I will agree to a mutual time to show the apartment. My question is not about access. It's amazing how people (i.e., Jaycee) did not read the post before responding.

My Tenancy Agreement does not discuss discounts on rent for viewings. My landlord gave me $50 off next month's rent for the first visit.

Do tenants in Singapore receive payment for viewings of their apartment? If so, how much?

ScoobyDoes wrote:Wow, I never got my payments docked because of viewings......generally we would only allow Sundays between 1 and 4pm depending on what we were doing etc.

We would normally be at home or at least around on Sundays, maybe just eating, playing or around the pool so not a major problem.

Once a week for a couple of hours is usually fine, i would say.

Yes, the discount is great!

lisalisadc wrote:

JayCee wrote:

JR8 wrote: Read you lease.

It's amazing how many people don't do this isn't it? Asking for advice without reading what they've signed

According to the Tenancy Agreement, the LL and I will agree to a mutual time to show the apartment. My question is not about access. It's amazing how people (i.e., Jaycee) did not read the post before responding.

My Tenancy Agreement does not discuss discounts on rent for viewings. My landlord gave me $50 off next month's rent for the first visit.

Do tenants in Singapore receive payment for viewings of their apartment? If so, how much?

I read your first post just fine thanks, the comment wasn't necessarily aimed at you.

However, taking your situation you're asking a question about whether people receive money for viewings in Singapore. Now if you want to know by the letter of the law if they should receive money or not, then yes this would be in your tenancy agreement which apparently you have read. If it's not in your tenancy agreement, then it doesn't automatically disqualify you from receiving anything, as you have found out, but to ask for money wouldn't be the norm. It's up to you and the landlord to sort out between yourselves.

He made a gesture of goodwill giving you $50 for the first viewing and I wouldn't expect that every time, not unless you don't want your deposit back anyway, he was well within his rights to do the first viewing and give you nothing. It's not a regular thing in Singapore at all to pay for viewings, which you'd know if you read up a bit on this forum about landlord, tenants etc... God knows there are enough horror stories

JayCee wrote: It's amazing how many people don't do this isn't it? Asking for advice without reading what they've signed

Yeah, and the other old chestnut is 'I signed this in a contract, does it mean I have to do it?'

The lease is up next month. I've shown the apartment 5-6 times in the past 3 months. Yesterday, he brought 35+ people in my apartment in the first half hour.

I told him that I am not renewing (due to 20% increase in rent) and no more viewings until I vacate the apartment.

His response was you have to let me show the apartment at least 2 more times before your lease is up (within the next month). And if I'm not home, I must pass the door key to him.

None of his conditions are in the lease. Certainly, he is not permitted to enter my apartment without permission. In the lease, the landlord is only permitted to show the apartment at mutually agreed upon time.

Is my landlord going to try to break into my apartment when I'm at work or away for the weekend? Besides sending my landlord an e-mail, how can I stop him from showing my apartment to strangers?