Renting Accommodation
Tenancy Agreement
Important points to note
• Your tenancy agreement is an agreement between the owner (landlord) and the tenant (you). You must be 21 years old to sign the agreement.
• Once the contract is signed, the landlord is under no obligation to provide anything not specified in the contract. Make sure your contract is complete for your requirements before you sign.
• If you are the tenant signing the contract, you must inform your landlord if others are living on the premises with you . All occupants’ names must be entered in the tenancy agreement. As the tenant, it is your responsibility to obtain all other occupants’ legal documentation such as passports, passes and permits for the landlord and keep him updated on new occupants. Never allow the landlord to keep the original documents.
• The Immigration Act requires by law that landlords renting accommodation to foreigners check and verify passport and Student’s Pass details before they rent out the property. The landlord will go to jail if the property is rented to illegal immigrants.
• The property is for you to live in only. You cannot operate a business f rom your landlord’s property.
• Whilst occupying the premises, you must allow the landlord or agent to bring potential tenants or buyers to view the premises with reasonable notice given (24-48 hours).
• The agreement may be terminated if the monthly rent is overdue for more than 14 days or if you breach any condition of the tenancy agreement.
• Tenant’s Covenants/Promise
The tenant shall not:
– Remove anything from the property without the landlord’s permission
– Change any part of the premises or contents without the landlord’s permission
– Assign or sublet the property
– Keep any dangerous or illegal items on the premises
– Keep any animals
– Be a nuisance to other occupants of the building
– Use the premises for illegal or improper use
At the end of the contract, the Tenant shall hand over the premises to the landlord in the same condi t ion as he took it over with allowances for fair wear and tear.
• Landlord’s Covenants/Promise
The landlord shall:
– Pay all taxes, charges and bills not agreed to be paid by the tenant
– Allow the tenant quiet enjoyment during the term, provided the tenant pays the rent on time
Basic House Inspection Checklist
• Is the place comfortable? Is it the right size? Is it within your budget? (Do not be tempted to accept something you cannot afford). Does it have air conditioning or fans?
• Is the house in good condition? Check for leaks, cracks, breakages, poor water flow, insecure window or door locks. Test the appliances that come with the apartment to make sure they work.
• Ask the landlord how quickly damaged items / property can be repaired when a report is made.
• What bills are included in the rent? What bills are you expected to pay – water, gas, electrical, phone (and connection charges)?
• What furniture comes with the property? Is what you see what you get or will you have to buy a new microwave, a desk or even a bed?
• What is the area like? Are the amenities you need within easy reach? Is it noisy at night? Do you feel safe returning at night?
• Can you redecorate, bring your bed or put up posters?
Before You Sign
• Check your tenancy agreement. Make sure both you and the landlord agree on the details. How much will you pay and when? How long is the contract? Can you leave before the contract ends? What is the notice period? Does the contract state all these details?
• If the landlord says he will be fixing something before you move in, get him to confirm this in writing. Once you have signed the contract the landlord does not have to agree to provide anything extra, so make sure you request all you need before the contract is signed.
• Get the landlord’s contact details in case something goes wrong. Take note of as many details as possible, including who you should phone if he goes away on holiday. Give him your contact details in case of emergency.
• Establish whether utility bills are included in the rental rate. If not, what percentage must you pay? Will bills be in your name? If so, you are legally responsible for full payment. Will your landlord inform the relevant authorities on billing instructions or will you have to do it? Were outstanding bills settled by the last occupants? Ask to see the paid receipts, or get written confirmation that the landlord will pay any outstanding bills on the apartment.
• If you are moving into shared premises, find out how bills are shared and settled.
• Check whether you can use the house telephone. If you make local calls, will you be required to pay the telephone charges, and if so, how much? If you install your own telephone line, you will need to pay S$500 as a deposit to SingTel. This deposit will be returned to you when you cancel the telephone line, upon payment of any outstanding charges.
• As the tenant, you will be expected to replace and pay for light bulbs, as and when needed.
Signing the Tenancy Agreement
• Do not feel pressured into renting a place until you are comfortable with it, as you are under no obligation to the landlord or the agent, should you use one. You should be very clear before signing any documents whether you will be sharing the room with any other person(s) for the entire duration of the rental period.
• Once you have decided to rent a property, you will sign a legal document known as a tenancy (rental) agreement and retain a copy for your reference.
Refer to Tenancy Agreement:
Important points to note and make sure your contract complies.
Double check that the person you are dealing with is the rightful owner/landlord.
Ask for his identity card and proof of property ownership if necessary.
• It is common practice for the tenant to pay stamp duty on the tenancy agreement and a security deposit equivalent to one month’s rental, together with the first month's rental before you move in. If you are using an agent, one month’s rent is also payable in commission to the agent’s company. Thereafter, payment is usually made on a monthly basis to the landlord. The security deposit is refundable at the end of the contract period, provided there is no damage to the property. Any damages or breakages caused during your stay will be deducted from the security deposit at the end of your contract. In some cases, the security deposit may also not be refunded if the tenant does not give sufficient notice to the landlord when moving out before expiry of the contract.
• Go through the inventory list (a list of items in the apartment for the tenant’s use that belong to the landlord) and make sure everything is present and in working order before signing the agreement. If the landlord is residing in the apartment, check whether use of common household facilities like the kitchen, TV, etc. is allowed.
• Make sure you have fully understood the terms and conditions/contents of the lease and have settled any uncertain terms with the landlord before signing the tenancy agreement. Do not feel pressured by the landlord to sign the agreement if you feel uncomfortable with it.
• If your student agent is not trained in tenancy issues, seek the assistance of a licensed housing agent.
• Hand the rental fees directly to the landlord/owner, to avoid possible misunderstandings or mishandling. It is best that you make cheques payable to the landlord/owner’s name. Ensure
that you receive a receipt from the landlord showing the full amount of rental paid for the accommodation.
• Keep a copy of the tenancy agreement for your own records. Obtain receipts for all payments made, for example security deposit, monthly rentals, etc.
• Your possessions are not covered in the landlord’s home contents insurance. It may be advisable to take up personal home contents insurance to cover your valuable belongings.
Source: Singapore Education
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