Rental questions

[zeedoo]

Dreamgear:

zeedoo:

May I know what are the items that should be provided for the apt to be considered fully furnished? Besides the fridge, washing machine, beds, sofa, dining table, study desk, wardrobes, what else are expected? Would tenants expect curtains, bedsheets, fans, kitchen appliances like kettle, etc? Thks

If i can recall correctly, its fridge, washing machine, bed with mattress, sofa, tv, dining tables and chairs, wardrobe and stove.

Are u going thru an agent? They have a list of items. U also need to service the aircon and keep the service record.

Thanks for the heads up, but what's the service record to be used for?

[Just relax]

Not really a service record but a air-con service contract for the duration of the tenancy where the air-con is serviced every 4 or 6 months.

[Dreamgear]

zeedoo:

Dreamgear:

[quote=\"zeedoo\"]May I know what are the items that should be provided for the apt to be considered fully furnished? Besides the fridge, washing machine, beds, sofa, dining table, study desk, wardrobes, what else are expected? Would tenants expect curtains, bedsheets, fans, kitchen appliances like kettle, etc? Thks

If i can recall correctly, its fridge, washing machine, bed with mattress, sofa, tv, dining tables and chairs, wardrobe and stove.

Are u going thru an agent? They have a list of items. U also need to service the aircon and keep the service record.

Thanks for the heads up, but what's the service record to be used for?[/quote]To establish that when u handed over, the aircon is in working condition. Your tenant will have to get a service contract for the aircon, to service to aircon regularly.

[pirate]

Dreamgear:

zeedoo:

May I know what are the items that should be provided for the apt to be considered fully furnished? Besides the fridge, washing machine, beds, sofa, dining table, study desk, wardrobes, what else are expected? Would tenants expect curtains, bedsheets, fans, kitchen appliances like kettle, etc? Thks

If i can recall correctly, its fridge, washing machine, bed with mattress, sofa, tv, dining tables and chairs, wardrobe and stove.

Are u going thru an agent? They have a list of items. U also need to service the aircon and keep the service record.

Curtains are usually required, even for \"semi-furnished\".

However, bear in mind that the more items you provide, the more issues you have to deal with regarding repairs etc.

My other experience is that the lower the market segment the rental is in, the more picky/troublesome the tenant is likely to be...

[pirate]

zeedoo:

I have a question for the landlords, especially hdb flat landlords : How much additional rental are tenants, on average, willing to pay for a \"renovated\" flat vs one which is not?


The flat in question is a 30-year old 5-room flat next to a MRT station. The floor tiles are the old ones from Day 1, relatively old-fashioned but in good condition nonetheless. The cabinets are more than 10 years old but also in good condition.

Should we just go for a paint job or should we spruce up the flat more? Would more extensive renovation attract much higher rental rates? If say the market rate is $3k for a unrenovated flat, would the renovated one draw
$3.1k, 3.2k...?

Would appreciate your sharing. Thanks!

Most tenants just want a nice, bright apartment. This means, the important rooms are the kitchens and the bathrooms. If these are in poor condition, you may need to do them up or take a much lower rent. Luckily, they can now be done up for not too much money if you remember to be pragmatic.

New wall/floor tiles can now be pasted on without having to hack the old ones off. This is important because it means not having to redo waterproofing, wires and pipes etc. New kitchen cabinets with laminate finish does not cost too much. Try to get a hard wearing synthetic counter top and make sure the countertop and backsplash is one piece. Tenants have a tendency to splash water all over the place and you don't want a countertop that allows water to seep in easily from the back and ruin all the cabinets in a year or two.

As for the other parts of the flat, unless the floor tiles are popping up, usually a fresh coat of light coloured (ideally white or off-white) paint on the walls will do. After each tenant, you will only need to do one coat of whitewash.

[pirate]

Dreamgear:

zeedoo:

Thanks for the heads up, but what's the service record to be used for?

To establish that when u handed over, the aircon is in working condition. Your tenant will have to get a service contract for the aircon, to service to aircon regularly.

I have never bothered with the service record. I do however agree to pay for repairs/maintenance issues within the first month of the tenancy. After that, it's the tenant's responsibility. So far, tenants have found it fair.

[starlight1968sg]

Appreciate some advice, pls.

My parents living in their 5rm hdb flat decided to rent out 2 of the rooms, while they live in the master bedroom.
Do they need to inform HDB?
Thank you.

[hquek]

starlight1968sg:

Appreciate some advice, pls.

My parents living in their 5rm hdb flat decided to rent out 2 of the rooms, while they live in the master bedroom.
Do they need to inform HDB?
Thank you.

Hi, believe it will be in their interest to inform. This can be done online fairly easily at HDB website.

[starlight1968sg]

hquek:

starlight1968sg:

Appreciate some advice, pls.

My parents living in their 5rm hdb flat decided to rent out 2 of the rooms, while they live in the master bedroom.
Do they need to inform HDB?
Thank you.

Hi, believe it will be in their interest to inform. This can be done online fairly easily at HDB website.

What is the purpose to inform besides being \"charged\" as income so as to pay tax?

[hquek]

starlight1968sg:

What is the purpose to inform besides being \"charged\" as income so as to pay tax?

Frankly, I can't recall why it'll be good to declare when it's renting out some rooms only. But HDB leases out the flat to us (check the terminology, unlike private property, HDB 'owners' are in reality renting the flat from HDB) so there are conditions that need be met.

Offhand, I don't believe there will be adverse implications (like confiscating the flat) especially since your parents are still staying in the unit; but where gahmen is concerned, I rather be safe than sorry. Up to individual.