Housing

You may be graduating soon and ready to launch your career in Singapore.

Or you could be seeking an internship or work experience here and are looking for short-term accommodation. Either way, there are affordable places here for you to stay.

Renting a Property

There are no restrictions on non-citizens renting a residential unit. You may engage a housing agent to help you look for a property, or browse the local newspaper's classified section which advertises a list of places for rent. However, a housing agent can better protect your interests, especially with regards to the lease.

Click here for a list of accredited housing agents in Singapore.

An exclusive guidebook on housing in Singapore is also available in the Contact Singapore members’ portal, which you can access upon registration.

Rental rates depend on:

• Location. The closer you are to the city centre and to facilities such as MRT stations, the more you can expect to pay.
• Size and condition of the place.
• Amenities. For example, is the place furnished, partially furnished or unfurnished?

To rent a place, you need to:

• Sign a lease with the owner, the terms of which are agreed between the two parties. Most landlords and housing agents ask to see your Employment Pass before agreeing to the lease.
• Sign an inventory listing of all the items provided by the owner, including their condition.
• Usually, a deposit or “security bond” equivalent to one month’s rent is required for leases that are over a year.
• Rental usually excludes utility bills but includes maintenance fees.

HDB flat or Hostel

If you’re looking for comfort and affordability, Housing Development Board (HDB) flats offer very good deals. The government-subsidised public housing are abundantly located across the island in convenient, self-contained estates with plenty of amenities such as supermarkets, food centres, clinics, schools, libraries and usually an MRT station. Easy to zip around and get what you need!

The biggest advantage of HDB accommodation is that they typically offer very reasonable rental rates, from SGD 400 a month for a room upwards to about SGD 3,000 for a double-storey maisonette. Check out listings of HDB flats and other apartment types here.

Approximate rental costs:

Visit the HDB's website to find out the estimated rental costs of HDB flats in various estates.

Generally, to rent an HDB flat, you must be either a:

• Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident or
• Non-citizen legally residing in Singapore (holder of Singapore blue Identity Card, Employment Pass, Work Permit or Student Pass).

If you are here as a student, living in a hostel or boarding house may also be a good bet. These often offer cheap housing from single to four-bedded rooms, with basic amenities such as meals, laundry services, TV and internet services. The added bonus is that you will be able to socialise with students of similar ages and interests.

Short-Term Accommodation

Maybe you are just looking to stay for a while or you prefer to look for short-term accommodation while you’re in Singapore, as you take your time to explore all options. There is a wide variety of short-term accommodation options available in Singapore to suit all budgets and personal preferences. These range from budget hostels, serviced apartments to world-class five-star hotels.

The Singapore Tourism Board website lists a comprehensive directory of places to stay and their estimated price range. The STB also publishes a comprehensive student accommodation handbook which you can refer to. You can also visit other websites like Scholars Link, Share Accommodation and Hostelz.com.