Renting in Singapore can be one heck of a ball game to conquer, especially if it’s your first time. It’s hard enough to find a unit that fits your budget, let alone keep track of a whole range of criteria. Some of these you may not even be aware of.
The last thing you want is to sign a lease for a rental unit that you’re not fully committed to, leaving you dreading your stay. We ain’t got the time and money for that.
So here’s a tenant checklist with 6 important things that tenants should know. This will help you make a more informed decision before committing to a tenancy agreement.
Contents
1. Prepare a rental viewing checklist to ask landlords
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
As most of the time spent during rental viewings is on exploring the unit itself, it’s easy to overlook the essential details. To keep things short and sweet for you, here’s what you need to clarify with the agent or the landlord, and some items to consider adding to the tenancy agreement:
- Furnishing status: unfurnished, partially furnished, or fully furnished
- Lease terms and rental duration
- Rental deposit and refund policy
- Maintenance responsibilities and repair clauses
- Damage checklist
- Utilities: condo maintenance fees, Wi-Fi, utilities billing
- Permitted changes to the unit: painting, wallpaper, fixtures, etc.
- Pet policy
- Renewal options at the end of the lease
You should also ask the landlord about the details that don’t usually go into a tenancy agreement, like neighbourhood noise and what the neighbours are like.
2. Inspect the condition of the rental unit for damage
Image credit: @ascend.design
Some landlords may conceal and refrain from being transparent about any defects in their space. As such, the onus is on you to thoroughly assess the general condition of the home and inspect for damage before you move in.
Apart from checking for cracks or holes in the walls, ensure that the floorboards are not peeling and that the tiles are all well-sealed. It can become a massive headache for you if they lead to mould growth, stains, or insect infestations developing between the tile linings.
Don’t be shy about bringing your magnifying glass or measuring tape to properly analyse the space, as some seasoned renters in Singapore have suggested. You’ll thank yourself and us later.
3. Test all appliances & fixtures during the rental viewing
During a rental viewing, it’s also crucial to ensure that all the appliances, fixtures and other nitty-gritty elements in the home are fully functioning. Otherwise, it can be equally troublesome and expensive to fix them.
This means testing out the fridge, washing machine, fans, air-conditioning units, sockets and other big-ticket items; even the electrical DB box should be checked in case a blackout occurs. Particularly for the aircons, take note of the models used and their warranty details, and discuss with your landlord how to settle any maintenance fees.
Over at the bathrooms, make sure all taps, water heaters and flushes are in order. For the kitchen, test stoves, microwaves and any other kitchen appliances listed in the tenancy agreement.
Apart from testing out all the light fixtures, you can also visit the unit in the evening or with the curtains closed to ensure the space is properly illuminated at night.
4. Check storage space & built-in cabinets in the rental home
You need not be a chronic hoarder to pay attention to a rental unit’s storage space. Not only does everyone need space to keep their personal belongings, but the storage should also be appropriate; you wouldn’t want to store cleaning supplies next to your condiments or use your oven as a spare wardrobe like Carrie Bradshaw.
During your rental viewing, inspect the shelves, cupboards, and built-in cabinets throughout the home. This lets you plan for more storage if you love the space but find it lacking in cabinets and drawers.
5. Check sunlight direction & ventilation
Another big factor to consider is the direction of sunlight relative to your rental home. In general, West-facing units in Singapore are more exposed to strong afternoon sun throughout the year.
But that doesn’t mean renting such units is a lost cause. Wind direction also matters, with North-South-facing units typically experiencing the best natural ventilation.
6. Check nearby amenities, MRT access & transport options
Image credit: TheSmartLocal
Before or after your viewing, you should also recce your future neighbourhood, or the vicinity around your rental home for all the essential amenities, such as shopping malls, clinics, hawker centres and post offices. After all, you wouldn’t want to commit to a lease only to find out that the nearest MRT station is a 30-minute walk away and there isn’t any good food nearby to satisfy your cravings with.
Tenant checklist for rental viewings in Singapore
With so many factors to consider, it might be hard to find a rental home that satisfies all conditions. That said, once you’ve sieved out the most important factors for rental viewings, trust that your judgement will be sharpened and you will find a place that’s rightfully yours.
For more renting guides in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: Uchify, TheSmartLocal
This article was originally published on 25th September 2023, and updated on 10th February 2026.
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