Housing

Young, upwardly mobile expatriates in Singapore will find the range of accommodation in Singapore exciting.

Will it be a high-rise apartment with full facilities in the heart of the business district, a shophouse close to the nightlife, or something more local in an HDB neighbourhood? Go lavish or affordable – you decide.

Renting a Property

There are no restrictions on non-citizens renting a residential unit. You may engage a housing agent to source for a property that meets your needs. Or if you prefer, you may like to browse the local newspapers, which advertises daily a list of private apartments, condominiums and houses for rent. However, engaging a housing agent better ensures that your interests are protected, especially with regards to the lease.

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

The cost of renting a place depends on:

• Location. Popular residential areas in Singapore are Districts 9, 10 and 11 which are close to the Central Business District. Areas close to MRT stations and the new waterfront along the Singapore River are quickly gaining in popularity too.
• Size and condition of the place.
• Amenities. Condominiums with full facilities may command a higher price. Rent also depends on whether the place is 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 at a year.
• Rental usually excludes utility bills but includes maintenance fees.

Renting Public Housing

An affordable option is the Housing Development Board (HDB) flat – government-subsidised public housing abundantly located across the island. Some 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB flats which are sited in convenient, self-contained estates with plenty of amenities nearby, such as supermarkets, food centres, clinics, schools, libraries and usually an MRT station.

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. The size of flats available ranges from one-room to five-room, as well as larger executive units. Visit the HDB website  to find out the estimated rental costs of HDB flats in various estates.

You may also view listings of HDB flats and other apartment types here.

To rent a HDB flat, you must be either a:

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

Renting a Private Property

Condominiums are a popular choice with both expatriates and locals. If you want facilities at your doorstep, from swimming pool and gym to round-the-clock security and scenic surroundings, condominiums can’t be beat, especially for families. For a listing of condominiums available, click here.

Serviced apartments are a convenient alternative. Apart from the usual condominium facilities, value-added services such as a cleaning service, laundry and room service are usually included. For a listing of service apartments available, click here.

Private residential apartments, condominiums and houses are intended for long-term stays. Current regulations do not allow these residential units to be rented on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Usually, the lease commitment has to be for a minimum period of six months.

To ensure a good living environment for residents, each occupant has to occupy at least 10sqm of the entire residential unit floor area, with the total occupancy not exceeding eight occupants per unit. This includes the owners if they are also staying at the premises.

For your own protection, be wary of renting any property that has been illegally repartitioned. Typically, a residential unit in Singapore should include basic functional amenities such as a kitchen, bathrooms, bedroom, and living and dining areas. Tell-tale signs that the property may have been illegally repartitioned include the presence of many small cubicle-like rooms (with or without their own separate utility meters) or the lack of basic functional amenities so that the premises no longer resemble a typical residential dwelling.

Approximate rental costs are:

Buying a Property

If you are planning to stay in Singapore for the long-term, buying real estate may be a viable decision. Under the Residential Property Act (RPA), there are no restrictions on non-citizens buying a private apartment or condominium unit, although prior approval from the government is needed for purchase of landed property.

As with rental, buying a property through an accredited estate agency is the preferred mode, as they can help you look out for pitfalls and negotiate prices and other terms and conditions. For more details on foreign ownership of residential properties under the RPA, visit the Singapore Land Authority website.

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 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.

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