After going through countless listings on PropertyGuru and viewing several properties along the way, you’ve finally found the perfect apartment to rent in Singapore. It’s affordable, clean, cosy, and the landlord is agreeable. You’ve also done up the Letter of Intent (LOI) and gotten it signed. Now, there’s just one thing that stands in your way before you can move in: Tenancy Agreement (TA).
However, you find yourself staring at it for what seems like an hour, confused with what everything means.
Not to worry. We’re here to help you break down the TA, so read on to find out.
What’s a Tenancy Agreement (TA) and Why Is It Important?
If you’re the kind of person who’d rather forgo food and water for an entire day than go through a legal agreement line by line, think of your TAin this way: It’s here to protect you (and your landlord).
A standard rental or TA lists down the terms and conditions that you and the landlord have agreed on. As a tenant, the rights and responsibilities that you have are explicitly stated in your TA.
The Tenancy Agreement is a document you can take reference from should there be any disagreements about issues such as monthly rent, maintenance and repairs, and privacy.
What Can You Find in a Typical Tenancy Agreement (TA)?
A TA in Singapore usually includes the following information:
- Full name and address of both the landlord and tenant
- Address of the property to be rented
- Lease period
- Payment of rent, specifying if it includes the utility bill
- Payment schedule and details
- Any additional fees, such as stamp fees or agent commission
- Inventory list of all the items in the rental property, including their condition
- Diplomatic clause
- Use of premises
- Immigration status of tenant and occupiers
- Maintenance of flat and effects
- Tenant’s covenants, such as paying rent, no subletting, and keeping the property in good condition
- Landlord’s covenants, such as providing a property suitable for people to live in
- Notices
- Termination of lease
- Suspension of rent
We know that’s a rather long list, but don’t feel stumped. Below, we’ve gone on to narrow down the TA clauses you should pay more attention to.
Clauses You Should Look at More Closely Before Signing the Tenancy Agreement (TA)
|
Tenancy Agreement (TA) clause |
What is it? |
|
Diplomatic clause |
This clause allows you to break the Tenancy Agreement without incurring a heavy penalty if the tenant needs to leave Singapore for good |
|
Security deposit |
The clause for security deposit sets the terms for a deduction in the event of repair or replacement for damaged items when the tenant ends the lease |
|
Maintenance and repair |
This clause states that tenants are liable to pay for any repair and maintenance costs that fall below a certain amount |
|
Inventory |
This clause is a laundry list of all the items in the room or property, such as appliances and furniture, and their corresponding condition |
|
Privacy and access |
Under this clause, the landlord is required to get the tenant’s permission before coming to the property. There are also some exception cases where the landlord can enter the house while the tenant is home |
Before we begin, it’s important to note that signing a TA without understanding the clauses in one can put you in an unfavourable position. When in doubt on any terms in the agreement, you should clarify them with your property agent or landlord.
If you’re told to ignore anything, don’t–it could put you in a worse situation later. For example, you might find yourself in a dispute with your landlord due to misunderstandings on the rental conditions.
1. Diplomatic Clause
If you are an expatriate, make sure this clause is included in the Tenancy Agreement. Although it’s usually included in the standard template, it’s good to double-check.
Typically taking effect from the midway point in the clause (e.g. after the first year of a two year lease), this clause allows you to break the rental agreement under certain conditions. In the event that you are unexpectedly posted to another country and need to leave Singapore, you can invoke the diplomatic clause to terminate the lease agreement without incurring a heavy penalty.
Note that the diplomatic clause notice period is usually 2 months. After all, your landlord needs sufficient time to find another tenant to replace you.
2. Security Deposit
You’ll need to pay the security deposit when you sign the Tenancy Agreement, and this is usually 1 month’s rent for a 1-year lease. If you’ve already paid a good faith deposit after signing a Letter of Intent (LOI), the landlord or his/her agent may agree to ‘convert’ the balance of the good faith deposit into the security deposit, for simplicity’s sake.
At the end of the lease, deductions are usually made from the security deposit for property damaged during the tenant’s stay. Note that the deposit may not be used to offset rent during the lease.
The clause for security deposit usually sets the terms for a deduction, which is used to cover the cost of repairing and replacing the damaged items, while allowing leeway in fair wear and tear of items over time.
Case in point: A slightly faded curtain is usually considered fair wear and tear damage and should not entitle the landlord to deduct from the security deposit. On the other hand, if the tenant breaks something that will not be damaged under normal circumstances (for example shattering an expensive ceiling light or cracking the bathtub), the landlord may justifiably deduct your security deposit to fix or replace the damaged items.
Do make sure the clause clearly states a firm deadline for when the security deposit will be refunded. In general, your security deposit should be returned to you upon the return of keys at the end of the tenancy.
Sometimes, however, it’s not unusual for the agreement to specify a 7 to 30-day waiting period after the end of the tenancy before the return of the Security Deposit. This period is for the landlord to accurately assess the cost of any repairs that may be needed.
3. Maintenance and Repair
For clauses that involve repair and maintenance, check the amount that you are liable for. As a tenant, you’re required to pay for minor repairs caused by wear and tear. This helps to ensure that you strive to keep the property in good condition.
A standard rental agreement usually states that tenants are liable to pay for any repair and maintenance costs that fall below a certain amount. This amount can range from $150 to $300, and could be for things such as air-conditioning servicing, tap repairs, and new light bulbs.
Tenancy Agreement maintenance repair clause
Should the cost of repairing an item exceed the amount that you’re liable for, the landlord is obliged to cover the remaining cost.
For instance, let’s say the clause states that you’re liable to pay for up to $150. If an air-con needs to be repaired and costs $200, you’ll have to pay $150 for it. The remaining $50 will then be covered by your landlord.
Note that the clause should also include the grace period for reporting defects, which is usually the first 30 days of the lease period. These defects may include faulty plumbing or electrical wiring, malfunctioning air-conditioning, or broken sockets.
During this grace period, you can inform your agent or ask your landlord to get them repaired without having to pay out of your own pocket. Do remember to take photos of these faults and send them to your agent or landlord within this period, through a time-stamped email.
Just to be sure, the TA should state clearly that the landlord will be responsible for resolving these defects if reported within the grace period. This ensures that you will not have to pay for damages caused by a previous tenant.
4. Inventory
This clause basically lists down all the items in the room or property, such as appliances and furniture.
Before you sign on the dotted line, check that all the items listed in the inventory match with the ones available in the property you’re renting. Be extra meticulous when you check this section and ensure that all the items are as described and are in working order. If there are any items that are faulty, be sure to inform your landlord about it so he or she can get it replaced.
This is also the chance for you to request the landlord to remove any items in the property. If there’s a particularly expensive item, you may request for its removal from the inventory so you won’t run the risk of breaking or damaging it.
It also doesn’t hurt to note down the brands and even the model numbers of the inventory items. We’ve heard of dishonest landlords who use the inventory list to cheat tenants.
You don’t want an unscrupulous landlord demanding that you pay for his ‘missing’ $6,000 Samsung ultra-wide 8K QLED television, when the television has all along looked like an oversized toaster with a piece of glass in front.
Noting down the details will prevent any unscrupulous landlords from accusing you of swapping an appliance for a cheaper model, insisting that you pay for the original.
Here’s an example of how an inventory list might look like for the living room:
|
Description |
Quantity |
|
Sofa |
1 |
|
TV (Brand, model) |
1 |
|
Coffee table |
1 |
|
Display cabinet |
1 |
|
Ceiling light |
3 |
|
Air-conditioner (Brand, model) |
1 |
|
Window curtain |
1 |
5. Privacy and Access
Most of us probably wouldn’t be too comfortable having a friend, or even a family member, popping by our home unannounced. What more a landlord?
In a nutshell, the privacy and access clause protects your privacy. Under this clause, your landlord is required to get your permission before coming to the property.
In addition, the clause specifies a list of reasons under which the landlord is allowed to access the premises while you’re staying there. This usually includes the following:
- Repairs
- Renovations
- Viewings for future tenants
Note that the clause should state how early the landlord should notify you in advance before dropping by. This ensures that your landlord does not show up at the place at the last minute.
After all, you don’t want your landlord showing up at your door when you’re cosy binge-watching a Netflix tear-jerker, or when you’re in the middle of a difficult yoga pose you’ve finally nailed.
Singapore Tenancy Agreement (TA) Samples You Can Download
Haven’t quite seen a TA before and want a better ‘feel’ of what’s in a rental agreement?
Here’s a free Singapore TA template sample for you to take a look at or even download for your own use (from the Council of Estate Agencies, CEA, which regulates property agents and salespersons in Singapore):
- Private property
- HDB flat
Renting a room instead of the whole flat? These TA templates will also work as a room rental agreement in Singapore. You might need to customise a few clauses but most of them are ready to go.
Do also head over to check out some of our other rental-related guides here:
- Rent a room in Singapore in eight easy steps
- An Expat Guide to Renting A Home in Singapore
- Your Housing Guide to Renting in Singapore
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Other FAQs on Rental Tenant Agreement:
1. Is a Tenancy Agreement (TA) legally required?
While you don’t legally need a TA to rent the place from your landlord, we think that it is necessary. Having a rental TA in place ensures that everything is in black and white to protect the interest of both parties, i.e. you (tenant) and your landlord. Any possible source of dispute can be settled amicably with the rental tenancy agreement. Otherwise, things will just be in a mess.
2. Who Prepares the Rental Agreement?
There is no hard-and-fast rule on who prepares the rental agreement. However, in most cases, it is the landlord (or his/her property agent) who prepares it. But that doesn’t stop you from preparing the rental agreement as a tenant.
3. How Much Does It Cost to Make a Rental Agreement?
Well, nothing. The rental agreement is a signed rental contract between the tenant and the landlord. But unlike other contracts, you do not need any witness. As long as both the tenant and landlord are agreeable to the terms, the rental agreement can be made. You can simply download one from CEA for private property or from HDB for HDB flats.
4. How Do I Write a Rental Agreement?
You don’t have to write your own rental agreement. You can easily download one from the internet from credible sources like CEA (private property) or from HDB (HDB flats).
We hope this article helps you better understand your tenancy agreement, so you can proceed to go through and sign one without breaking a sweat.
Happy renting!
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