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Renting in Singapore? Here’s What You Need to Know

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One of the main benefits of living alone as a young adult is that you get an early taste of adulting and reap valuable life lessons from this newfound independence. Living alone for the first time will force you to manage your finances and teach you to prioritise your needs and wants.

You might also find interactions that stem from living independently to be rewarding, be it liaising professionally with property agents and landlords, to making friends with new neighbours and roommates from all walks of life.

Another tempting factor of living alone as a millennial is the sense of freedom — you no longer have a curfew or anyone to answer to when it comes to your sleeping and eating habits, for example. But this also means that you must remain disciplined and not succumb to unhealthy lifestyle choices.

renting-singapore-beginners-guide-renting-affordable-home-singapore
One of the main benefits of living alone as a young adult is that you get an unfettered taste of adulting.

If you’re single or in the LGBTQ+ community, it may be challenging to buy your first flat in Singapore, so renting is always a feasible and equally fulfilling alternative.

Getting started is always the hard part: Where can I rent in Singapore? Should I rent alone or with my friends? Is it better to get a room or a whole apartment? Can I afford it?

If you’ve asked these questions before, we’re here to help get you started!

Here’s a quick overview of what we’ll be covering:

Renting jargon explained

The Letter of Intent

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a document given by the tenant to the landlord that highlights their genuine plans on renting a property.

It includes all agreements between the tenant and the agent or landlord. (For example, whether you’re allowed visitors and at what timings, whether you can cook, whether you can use common areas with live-in landlords present etc.)

Giving an LOI additionally requires a “Good Faith deposit”, which, for a 12-month lease, is a sum equal to one month’s rent to seal the deal. Just think of it as a way to “chope” your home.

The Tenancy Agreement

A Tenancy Agreement (TA) is an irrevocable contract between you and the landlord, detailing your personal particulars, the landlord’s particulars, and the tenets of your agreement. These tenets should align with the details agreed upon in your LOI.

A TA also encompasses a security deposit which is essentially your Good Faith deposit, together with your first month’s rental. This sum will be returned to you at the end of your tenancy unless you damage the property or back out totally.

What you should know when renting a home in Singapore

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There are three main factors to consider when renting in Singapore.

Renting your first property as a newbie can be daunting but if you’re serious about moving out, here are a few helpful considerations to note before going on a house hunt:

1. Understand your needs

Why are you renting?

There are many reasons why young adults choose to live on their own, be it for a sense of independence from their families, for convenience, to move in with their partners or just for a change of environment. Being certain about what you hope to get out of the experience will help you in your search.

Type of accommodation

There are tons of accommodation options available in Singapore, from public housing like HDBs and private housing like condominiums and studio apartments.

Hence, it is essential that you weigh the pros and cons of each type of housing, and pick the one that best matches your preferences and what you hope to gain out of living in that fresh environment.

HDB flats

Not only are HDB flats generally cheaper, but they also don’t disappoint in providing convenience:

Rubbish disposal is easy with centralised rubbish chutes, and common areas are usually clean. Furthermore, since HDB flats are mostly located at heartland locations, you get a good mix of eateries, groceries, and convenience stores at a stone’s throw away.

Unmarried singles above 35 who require financial assistance for renting an HDB flat can turn to the HDB Public Rental Scheme if they are eligible for help.

Private Properties (Condominiums, Bungalows, Terrace Houses)

While much pricier, renting a private property has its fair share of perks.

As the name suggests, you may enjoy greater privacy renting a bungalow or a terrace house. Renting a condominium will grant you a slew of facilities right at your doorstep, such as gyms, pools, and round-the-clock security. So, if you are willing to pay more for added comfort and privacy, private properties are a suitable option.

When choosing HDBs or private properties, though, you will also be dealt with the choice of renting a whole unit or a single room rental (i.e. you live with other tenants or the landlord in one house).

When renting, you will also have to consider the cost of basic utilities and whether it is included in the rental price. Those renting a whole unit that comes without basic utilities can easily secure gas, water, and electricity for their rentals through a single account on the Singapore Power Services (SP Services) website.

Location

Perhaps one of the most important factors to think about when moving out is the location of your future home. As a rule of thumb, your new living quarters should be located next to or with public transport at a walkable distance away for ease of commuting.

If you own a car, you may want to look into seasonal parking tickets within your neighbourhood (Here is a list for HDBs).

You should also look out for essential amenities such as supermarkets, malls, restaurants and convenience stores for your day-to-day material needs.

Comfort

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Location is king when it comes to property. Make sure you’re comfortable with the location of your rental.

After discussing the location, you may want to research the area around your housing. For example, living right next to an MRT track may cause noise pollution during MRT operation hours, disrupting your rest or ability to concentrate if you prefer working from home.


Another factor that could potentially affect your comfort in sunny Singapore is air conditioning. For those of us who would rather not languish in the heat, you can get professional air conditioning maintenance and servicing for as low as $18.90.

2. Prepare a budget plan and stick to it

Before you embark on your solo living mission, draw up a budget plan detailing your predicted monthly expenses (on rental, Internet and utility fees, daily necessities, savings) and your financial capabilities. This will not only help you narrow down viable accommodation choices, but also give you a big picture of how to manage your money responsibly as you study.

If you’re renting a whole unit, remember to consider external utility bills and air conditioning servicing (if applicable) in your budget as well.

Here is a breakdown of the total estimated fees one has to pay when renting a home in Singapore:

Type of SpendingCost
Good faith deposit and security depositsOne month’s rent (for 1-year lease) / Two month’s rent (for 2-year lease) + first-month rental fees
Agent fees (if applicable)The usual market rate is 2% but with Ohmyhome, it’s only 1% of the sale price + GST.
FurnishingsSubject to personal preferences, whether you rent out a fully-furnished or half-furnished home
External utility bills (gas, water, electricity)$40-60 per month
External Internet bills$20-30 per month
Air conditioning billsWith Ohmyhome, $20-80 depending on the number of aircon units and the type of service (normal or chemical wash)

3. Do your due diligence and start searching

While you should begin scouring the Internet as early as possible to snag the best deals and locations, it is also wise to spend a careful month (or longer) researching places and calculating your budget.

To get you started, explore Ohmyhome’s property listings with more than 100 homes (and rooms) for rent, be it HDB, condo, or landed.

Self-sourcing vs Hiring a property agent

You may choose to find a rental unit independently or opt for a property agent (find them on real estate websites like Ohmyhome, with Super Agents known for their fast closing speed and high customer satisfaction ratings).

Whatever the case, remember that hiring a property agent entails paying agent commission fees of up to a month’s rent on your end, so you may want to do it yourself if budget is tight.

Otherwise, engaging a property agent eases the rental process as they will guide you every step of the way, from offering you choices based on your personalised needs and preferences to driving you to property viewings and completing paperwork with you.

Comparing rates across the market

Ideally, your rent should not be costing you more than 30 to 40% of your monthly income. This allows you to set aside cash for your emergency funds, savings and investments.

So, comparison across the market and differentiating your needs and wants in terms of the level of comfort and luxury you can realistically afford is vital.

Here’s the median rent of HDB flats in Singapore for Q3 2022:

HDB Town3-room4-room5-room
Punggol$2,750$2,800$2,800
Woodlands$2,000$2,500$2,600
Sengkang*$2,700$2,800
Bukit Panjang$2,000$2,550$2,600
Clementi$2,350$3,100$3,500
Bukit Batok$2,000$2,500$2,800
Bishan$2,400$2,300$3,300
Choa Chu Kang*$2,600$2,500
Jurong West$2,150$2,600$2,800
Bedok$2,200$2,500$2,980
Tampines$2,300$2,500$2,900
Pasir Ris*$2,500$2,700
Queenstown$2,500$3,450$3,600
Geylang$2,200$2,600$3,200
Toa Payoh$2,200$2,800$3,200
Bukit Merah$2,400$3,000$3,450
Sembawang*$2,450$2,400
Jurong East$2,200$2,800$2,900
Ang Mo Kio$2,290$2,600$3,000
Serangoon$2,300$2,750$2,859
Yishun$2,100$2,500$2,500
Kallang/Whampoa$2,300$2,900$3,200
Hougang$2,200$2,600$2,500
Bukit Timah***
Central$2,600$3,500*
Marine Parade$2,300$2,650*
*Fewer than 20 rental transactions in Q3 2022. Data is not shown as they may not be representative. | Source: CNA

Alternative forms of renting in Singapore: Co-Living Spaces

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Co-living spaces are now on the rise. | Source: Hmlet

Though a relatively new concept to many, co-living spaces are especially popular amongst millennials due to their beautifully furnished and #instaworthy homes, as well as the opportunity to stay and meet new people.

If you have a bigger budget and enjoy sharing a modern apartment with some friends, co-living spaces are something you can consider! If this is something you’d be interested in, here’s a list of co-living spaces around Singapore that you can consider:

  • Hmlet:
    • Offer short-time and long-term stay options
    • Essential services and amenities like Wifi are provided
    • Price range: $1,000 or $10,000 per month
    • Areas: CBD, Bukit Timah, Orchard, Little India and more
  • Commontown:
    • Rooms come fully equipped with bedding, and basic household supplies.
    • Laundry, maintenance and housekeeping services available.
    • Price range: $1,400 or less to $2,600 or more per month
    • Areas: Newton, Tiong Bahru, one-north and more
  • Cove:
    • Fully-furnished rooms or studios in condos, landed properties or apartment blocks with weekly housekeeping and flexible monthly contracts
    • Price range: $1,000 to $3,200 per month
    • Areas: CBD, Tanjong Pagar, Geylang, Tampines and more
  • Dash:
    • Features readily-furnished apartments with housekeeping and maintenance services as well as laundry and kitchen facilities.
    • A community manager is also at your service should you rent a room from Dash.
    • Dash residents also enjoy a slew of dining and lifestyle perks courtesy of the company.
    • Price range: $800 to $2,500+ per month
    • Areas: CBD, Novena, Geylang, Pasir Panjang and more

*When house hunting online, take advantage of the platforms’ filter functions to get straight to your preferred location, budget, etc.

However, living with friends can be a lot of fun. As with all relationships, though, disputes may arise the longer you stay closer together. So, before you co-sign that lease, ensure that you’ve established common ground with your buddies. Come up with reasonable house rules, negotiate how the bills and chores will be split, and be clear on how long each of you will be staying.

Pack up and get excited

After sealing the deal, the only step left is preparing your belongings for the big move. Make a list of necessary items-e.g. clothing, electronics, bathroom supplies and monetary resources-so you can avoid a trip back home.

You may also want to jazz up your living spaces with cute furniture or living accessories to get that cosy, Insta-worthy home. After all, you are taking the next step in life by choosing to live alone and spend responsibly!


Looking for an HDB or private property? Here’s how you can speed up your home search!

Let Ohmyhome’s smart data-matching technology MATCH you with the right home, according to your specific needs. Submit your preferences to us and our algorithm will filter all our available listings based on those, and we’ll WhatsApp them to you once we find a match. We’ll also send you relevant content that you can use for your research and inform your home-buying decision, so you no longer have to spend hours searching online for the information that you need. Because at Ohmyhome, we’re always by your side, always on your side.

Drop us a message on WhatsApp or chat with us via our Live Chat at the bottom, right-hand corner of your screen to speak with a Relationship Manager or be connected to a Super Agent. 


Contributed by Planner Bee, your handy financial planning app! Learn more about managing your money, investments and insurance on Planner Bee’s blog.

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