A Local’s Guide To Short Term Accommodation in Singapore – 2024

5 mins

If you are intending to move, live and work in Singapore for at least a few months, it is likely that you would want to put up at a more permanent address than a hotel. In highly developed Singapore, while one may find a variety of rental accommodation available, there are also certain legal restrictions to take note of. In this guide you will learn what those legal restrictions are, what short term accommodations are available, and tips on how to choose a place to live that is best suited to your personal preferences.

1. Short term stays in Singapore

In Singapore, the general rule of thumb is that your accommodation options become greater when your rental period reaches at least three months and greater yet when it reaches or exceeds a year. This is because when it comes to renting in Singapore, the law requires a minimum period in which renters occupy their accommodation, known as the minimum rental period.

For detailed listings of short term stays with Figment, click here to learn more.  

Minimum rental period

For private properties, such as condominiums and landed houses, the minimum rental period is three consecutive months. For public housing, which are known HDB flats, the minimum rental period is six months. These requirements are in place mainly to protect the interests of long-term residents who live in the same building or estate, so that their quality of life is not compromised by the disruptive coming-and-going of short term visitors.

Available Accommodation

As a global city, Singapore hosts a whole gamut of accommodation options. In addition to residential homes, you can find hostels to hotels, serviced apartments to coliving services – one is certainly spoilt for choice. Singapore is anomalous in one respect however, which is that short term rental platforms such as Airbnb are illegal.

This is because the core idea that has made Airbnb a soaring success, which is renting out homes for short term stays, runs itself against the very guideline that makes short term stays (less than three months) of residential property illegal, therefore precluding its legal operations in Singapore.

But while it is technically illegal, that hasn’t stopped some from listing their property on the online platform, nor has it fully deterred people from renting them in turn. Just bear in mind its risky status if you do consider renting from Airbnb or similar short term rental platforms.

Renting eligibility

You should also take note that not everyone is eligible to rent. To rent property in Singapore, you need to be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. Non-citizens may rent if they hold an employment or work permit like an S-pass, a student pass, dependent pass or long term social visit pass.

2. Choosing the right short term accommodation

Before launching headfirst into the search online for accommodation, we recommend taking some time to assess your needs and wants in the place you will soon call home.

Convenience

One of the main things you should consider is the distance and time it would take for you to travel to your workplace and to essential amenities such as the supermarket, clinic, and public transportation hub. Living close to the central business district will ensure a shorter daily commute and easy access to restaurants and entertainment if you are willing to pay more for rent.

If you prefer a quieter living environment and don’t want to pass by the building where you work on the weekends, you can explore the residential neighbourhoods if you don’t mind the slightly less convenient location.

Comfort

Besides convenience, comfort would be another major factor affecting your choice of home. Do you consider yourself a more private and introverted person? If so, then sharing a home with many other housemates may not be your cup of tea. Is having a gym and pool important to you? Then condominium apartments that come with these amenities would be a more obvious choice. How about furnishing – are you OK with an unfurnished home, or do you want it fully furnished? A bare-bones house may seem cheaper, but may end up costing more to furnish yourself, not to mention take up time too. If that seems like too much hassle, check out Figment’s homes which come fully furnished and move-in ready – there’s even one with a heated pool!

Experience

Now is probably a good time to ask yourself how much of an appetite you’ve got for getting to know what this island city has got to offer. There are noticeable expat enclaves in the upper-class neighbourhoods of Bukit Timah and Orchard that are favoured for their proximity to luxury retail and good schools. However, they offer just a narrow sliver that hardly captures the full flavour of the city. Heritage neighbourhoods such as Jalan Besar and Joo Chiat will allow you to more authentically experience living like a local, where you may witness the intersection of cultures and the city’s old and the new soul right at your doorstep.

3. Short term accommodation – what’s available

Under three months

For less than $150 a night you will be able to find a range of budget-friendly options from hostels to studio apartments listed on Airbnb and Vrbo. If you require a more comfortable set-up, there are also plenty of hotels and a spectrum of premium serviced apartments operated by Oakwood Asia, Frasers Hospitality and Far East Hospitality. Prices start from $200 per night and serviced apartments usually have a minimum stay of at least six nights.

Over three months

The most pocket-friendly choice would be a shared flat. Search sites for short term room rental in Singapore such as RoomGo and Facebook groups including FindYourRoomInSG, Flats & Flatmates in Singapore, Room Rent/ Roomate in Singapore post new listings daily so you can find the latest availabilities in the market. If you’re looking to rent anything else, these are the sites to visit: 99.co, PropertyGuru, RentinSingapore, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and Carousell.

Besides the run of the mill apartment, coliving spaces are also worth considering. They are more bang for your buck since the price for your short term room rental also includes access to the communal spaces that are designed for social activity. At Figment, there is even the added flexibility of moving to another of its 15 houses if you extend your stay, an attractive feature since each shophouse is one of a kind.

4. Tips for success

Reviews and average cost of rent

Be sure to read reviews left by past tenants if available and be partial to Superhosts on Airbnb – they have been rated consistently high by reviewers for a reason! Do your research on the average monthly rents of the condo or postal district you’re eyeing at the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s e-Service, which shows you completed rental contracts of private residential properties.

Negotiating a reasonable Tenancy Agreement

If you are an expat, you should ensure a diplomatic clause is included in your Tenancy Agreement. A diplomatic clause will cover you in the event of an unexpected job transfer or termination, forcing you to end your tenancy. Typically, in a tenancy agreement of two years, you need to have stayed for a minimum of 12 months and give a notice period of at least two months before you can exercise the clause. The total rental paid till the end of lease would be 14 months. Terms such as the minimum rental and notice period are negotiable between you and your landlord, so be sure to reach an agreement to safeguard yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

Other important clauses to take note of include the minor repair clause, access to premises clause and option to renew clause.

Minor repair clause:
Regular usage results in wear and tear, which will inevitably occur in any property you live in. This clause specifies how much the landlord or tenant have agreed they are liable to pay with regards to any damages caused by wear and tear.

Access to premises clause:
Occasionally the landlord will need to access the property to conduct repair work or to allow viewings for potential tenants. This clause will state the acceptable reasons for which the landlord is allowed access on the property and should also include the notice period the landlord needs to give before showing up at the property.

Option to renew clause:
If you decide to extend your stay beyond the lease period in your contract, this clause will allow you to do so. Let your landlord know you intend to extend or renew your lease and they will prepare the contract for extension.

If this is your first time renting property in Singapore, approach the experience with an open mind and expect minor hiccups along the way. Even if the first place you rent fails to meet expectations, don’t despair. A short term lease means you will get to try someplace else soon. But if you do find a gem of a place, make sure to lock it down with a longer lease and by doing so you can negotiate a better price. Good luck!

For detailed listings of short term stays with Figment, click here to learn more.