Discovering Singapore 2022

Maintaining a Rental Property Maintenance Costs and Utilities

The landlord is responsible for property taxes and unit management fees. However, the tenant will have to pay for utility costs such as electricity, water, and gas. Garden, swimming pool, alarm system and auto-gate maintenance or other costs are to be borne by the tenant. For the standard Residential Tenancy Agreements, the tenant will be responsible for applying for electricity, water and/or gas in the new rental home under their own account. Helpful Hint: Be sure to ask for estimate charges of housing maintenance from service contractors as these are extra costs on top of the rent and the landlord will require documentary proof or maintenance contracts. Minor Repairs It is standard practice that tenant will bear the repair within the minor repair limit which can range from S$150-400 depending on the type of rented property. The tenant will have to pay for any repairs in the premises within the said amount and the landlord will pay if the repair is above the minor repair or in some cases, the landlord will only bear the excess amount. If there is any structural damaged to the property, i.e. the walls, concealed pipes, concealed electrical wiring, etc, the repairs will be covered by the landlord, provided the tenant did not cause the problem due to negligence or misuse. Small maintenance cost like change of light bulbs shall be the tenant’s responsibility.

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Discovering Singapore 2022