Singapore Housing: Rental Property Types

Picture: A Typical New Private Condominium in Singapore

Introduction

The number of expatriates relocating to the city of Singapore has increased substantially in the last few years leading to tightened availability of suitable rental housing. Limited land has resulted in many older buildings being razed to make way for new condominium high-rises. While few of the expats decide to purchase, the vast majority of relocating expatriates choose to find appropriate rental housing in Singapore.

What to rent and where to rent in Singapore? How to find a rental property that suits your budget and personal preferences? No doubt, house hunting is one of the top priorities for expatriates that are in the process of relocating to Singapore. Singapore provides a variety of housing rental options to suit your budget. Finding the right property to rent that will be liked by both yourself and your loved ones will require some planning and patience. Expatriates usually choose to stay in a hotel for at least a brief time after arriving in Singapore so as to smooth the transition. Although, serviced apartments and hotels may advertise themselves as ‘home away from home’, coming back to your ‘own’ home after a long day at work is what everybody looks forward to.  

Singapore spans approximately 42 kilometers east-west and 23 kilometers north-south. Roughly half the area is used for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. About 90% of the population lives in high-rise buildings.

The task of house hunting in Singapore can be a challenging task like in any other big city therefore some level of research and planning upfront might ease the task significantly.   Once you have a clear idea about your priorities, you should be able to narrow down your housing search to specific residential areas. The money you shell out as rent differs widely based on the location and facilities offered.

Types of Properties You Can Rent in Singapore

Private Property Rental in Singapore
Condominiums are the  most common type of private property in Singapore. If you are looking for good facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, gym, sauna, barbeque pits, etc, renting a condo in Singapore would be your ideal choice. Depending on how much you can afford, you will either select a condominium in a prime location or somewhere in the heartlands. Most popular condominiums in Singapore are located in Central Business District (CBD), East Coast, and West Coast areas.  The rental of a private condominium in the CBD area will bear a tag of S$6000 to S$15000 while those in the outskirts can be rented around S$3000-$6000 per month. A private condominium is the most popular rental choice for expatriates in Singapore.

Private apartments in Singapore are similar to condos but normally lack most of the facilities that are found in condominiums. They also tend to be older buildings since most of the new private construction is done in the form of condominiums. Renting an apartment in Singapore in the CBD area will bear a tag of S$5000-S$8000 while those in the outskirts can be rented around S$2500-$5000 per month.

Stand alone houses come in the form of terrace houses, townhouses, and detached bungalows. Although these houses lack common facilities that you would get with a condominium, it's made up by the size and privacy of these properties. Rental prices for detached houses in Singapore tend to be on the higher side and out of range for many of us. The rental of such a detached house will likely bear a tag of S$10000 - S$25000 per month.

Public Housing Rental in Singapore
More than 80% of Singapore's local population lives in public housing locally known as HDB flats. Public housing in Singapore is not considered a sign of poverty or a lower standard of living as compared to public housing in other developed countries. HDB estates are usually well planned and maintained. Many basic facilities such as banks, local schools, clinics, local shops, markets, subway station, bus stations, etc. are located in close proximity. Anyone who does not want to live in  a HDB housing estate will choose to rent or buy a private condominium with more luxurious amenities. HDB flats for rent in Singapore can range from 2-bedroom to 5-bedroom flats. 

Picture: A Typical New Housing Estate in Singapore

The Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) of Singapore rents out HDB flats directly to foreign talent. These are available under the Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent (SHiFT) for employment pass holders. JTC rents HDB flats at affordable rents in the range of S$900 - S$1500. Most of the HDB flats rented by JTC to foreigners are located at the outskirts of the city away from the city centre.

Alternatively you may also rent an HDB flat in Singapore from the open market. Make sure that the flat is approved by HDB authorities for rental by owner.  Many of the HDB flats rented in the open market usually come with basic furnishing already in place. HDB flats in open rental market are slightly more expensive than the JTC rental flats and rent for a 3-bedroom flat will normally range between S$1000-S$2000.

If you are on an extremely tight budget, you can also explore renting shared accommodations in Singapore. It is readily available although it may take a while to find something that meets your needs. Local newspapers are a good bet for exploring this options.

Conclusion

Depending on your budget and preference, you can be renting an HDB flat for as little as S$1000 or a bungalow for as high as S$30000. If your take home pay for the whole family is less than S$5000 and the company does not take care of accommodations , it is a wise choice to settle for a HDB flat. If your family take home is in the range of S$6000 - S$20000, you can think about renting an apartment or a condo. Higher income earners will need to decide between a top-end condominium or a detached house.  

Other Related Topics

Singapore Branch | Singapore Subsidiary | Singapore Representative Office