We all know that Singapore is a great place to live in. After all, Singapore did come first again in HSBC’s annual expat survey. If you have made your decision to come to Singapore to work, getting your rent sorted out will probably be your next biggest decision to make (and can really make or break your experience here).
Not to scare you away from moving to Singapore, but do not underestimate its small size. There are lots of nuances in the Singapore property market that can make rental slightly difficult to navigate. If you are totally clueless about the Singapore rental market please start by reading our renting in Singapore guide. If you are done with that, here are some renting in Singapore tips that you really use.
Renting in Singapore Tips #1 Forgetting about commute times

Many expats come to Singapore and probably think it is so small that commute times probably would not take long. While that is true if you are used to staying in the countryside and making a 2 hour journey to work everyday, time is of the essence in Singapore! So a 10 minute extra time added to your commute everyday can result in an additional almost 90 hours spent travelling in a year! While it is important to stay at popular expat areas like Holland Village, it is worthwhile to take a step back and think about where you travel to everyday. Before you sign the dotted line, try it for yourself and time to see how long it takes for you to get to work.
Renting in Singapore Tips #2 Take the tropical weather into account

Source: Asiaone
If this is your first time renting here, there aren’t many better renting in Singapore tips then this. Singapore is HOT! Many expats coming to Singapore for the first time are surprised at how humid it can get. So what they assume is an easy 20 min walk to work back in their home country results in them arriving to work dripping with sweat in Singapore. And don’t forget this is all year round!
More from Stacked
From The 70s To The Present: The Evolution Of Singapore’s Condo Layouts
Our tastes as homeowners have changed over the years, and so have regulations. From the experimental era of the ‘70s,…
Renting in Singapore Tips #3 Specify exactly what you want
This is probably more of a general advice that can be applicable wherever you may rent, but before you go looking for a place, think about exactly what you need first (other than the budget). For example, is staying near an MRT station or living near your child’s school more important to you? Note all your criteria’s down and if you are using a real estate agent pass this to them. Letting them know in advance will be very helpful and can save a lot of time viewing less suitable places and the time saved can help in getting you settled quick.
Renting in Singapore Tips #4 Use Google Maps

With most of Singapore in 3D mode now on Google maps, it is now very easy to take a look at different areas without actually going there. Of course you can always use the usual Google street view but with all the changes in fast paced Singapore, there are a number of areas that are outdated right now. You can also utilise Google maps to monitor the traffic situation everyday, so utilise it to see how bad traffic can be at different times of the day and whether that level of busyness is acceptable to you.
So here are all the renting in Singapore tips that will surely help in your rental journey!
As always, feel free to comment below or you can reach us at hello@stackedhomes.com if you have any questions!
Sean
Sean has a writing experience of 3 years and is currently with Stacked Homes focused on general property research, helping to pen articles focused on condos. In his free time, he enjoys photography and coffee tasting.Read next from Rental Market

Rental Market Is Singapore’s Rental Market Really Softening? We Break Down The 2024 Numbers By Unit Size

Editor's Pick The Cheapest Condos For Rent In 2024: Where To Find 1/2 Bedders For Rent From $1,700 Per Month

Rental Market Where To Find The Cheapest Landed Homes To Rent In 2024 (From $3,000 Per Month)

Rental Market Where To Find High Rental Yield Condos From 5.3% (In Actual Condos And Not Apartments)
Latest Posts

Editor's Pick Penrith Condo Review: Full-Facility Condo For Just 462 Units Near The MRT

Editor's Pick This New 706-Unit Integrated Condo at River Valley Starts From $1.298M – And the Price Raises a Big Question for Buyers

Overseas Property Investing Why Renewed Interest In Johor Will Not Help All Investors In The Iskandar Region

Editor's Pick Faber Residence Pricing Review: How It Compares To Nearby Resale And New Launches

On The Market 5 Cheapest 5-Room HDB Flats You Can Buy Right Now From $535k

Singapore Property News The Real Reason Homes Keep Getting Snapped Up in Singapore

Editor's Pick We Toured One Of Singapore’s Most Expensive Landed Estates — Is It Really Worth The Price?

Property Market Commentary The Best Condo Rental Yields Near International Schools In Singapore Isn’t Where You’d Expect

On The Market The Cheapest 3-Bedroom Condos in Singapore You Can Buy Right Now Under $1.2M

Singapore Property News Record $1.27M Sale Makes This 30-Year-Old HDB The Town’s Priciest Yet

New Launch Condo Analysis Skye At Holland Pricing Review: How It Compares To Nearby Resale And New Launches

On The Market Three Rare Bungalows With Unique Design Hit The Market For $13.98m – Each With Over 9,300 Sq Ft Of Space

Editor's Pick Why I Sold My 40-Year-Old Jurong Flat For A Newer Bukit Panjang One: A Buyer’s Case Study

Editor's Pick 5 Ways To Get A Better Price For Your Property When The Market Is Changing

Pro Are Older One- and Two-Bedders in District 10 Holding Up Against the New Launches? We Break It Down
