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Hi, I can understand your frustration and your instinct to protect your mother is absolutely right. Let me give you an honest assessment of this situation.
On the rental rate:
Based on recent Parkshore transactions at $5.5K, $6K and $6.2K, a renewal at $5.3K with additional rectification costs imposed on the landlord is genuinely below market. Your mother's unit at 1,300 sqft deserves better, even accounting for its age and condition.
On the agent's conduct:
What concerns me here is the sequence of events. A good landlord's agent should:

Negotiate firmly on the landlord's behalf first
Present rectification costs as a separate negotiation, not a condition of closing
Never allow rectification commitments to effectively neutralize a rental increase

The way this was handled — pushing rectification works to close quickly at $5.3K — does raise legitimate questions about whose interests were being prioritized.
What I would recommend:

Do not sign the renewal agreement yet if it hasn't been signed — you still have negotiating room
Request a full breakdown of all rectification works and costs your mother is expected to bear
Get independent quotes for the aircon replacement and any other works before agreeing to anything
Engage a new agent who will represent your mother's interests properly and renegotiate from a position of strength

The aircon replacement alone for a System 2 unit can cost $1,500 to $2,500 — that effectively wipes out months of the $300 increase your mother negotiated.
I specialize in protecting landlord interests in exactly these kinds of renewal situations. If you'd like a second opinion or wish to explore re-marketing the unit at a proper market rate, I'd be happy to assist your mother directly. Read More

I am unaware of how the actual conditions of the unit is, but as shared with you in our email exchanges, if formal agreement has not been signed, your mum can still change her mind in this. Nevertheless, do bear in mind the overall environment of the rental market before making any decision. Read More

Hi

I have replied to your email that day, not sure if you seen it. Copying my reply here again.

Hi Amy

Sorry to hear about the situation, I hope you all are managing well.

Based on the limited info shared, hmm I'm not sure why the landlord has to bear all the rectification charges in this case. If the damages are not all due to normal wear and tear, and more likely due to the carelessness of tenant in terms of maintenance of unit, it seems that part of the expenses should be covered by them as well. How the unit is handed over to tenant, the tenant is required to keep to a similar standard of condition, save for normal wear & tear, by the end of tenancy period.

Has the tenant serviced the Aircon unit according to the TA schedule? If they did not do the servicing as agreed, and the Aircon is not working as well, it seems that part of the costs should be covered by them as well.

Ultimately it also depends on how the landlord views the situation and how much you all need this tenant group. Does your mum prioritize the continual cash inflow so she can have peace of mind with mortgage repayments? The good thing about renewal is zero vacancy period. It might be possible to get higher rent based on recent rental rates, but it might be at the expense of 1 or 2 months vacancy period, is the landlord comfortable enough to stomach such uncertainty?

I look at parkshore current rental listings, there isn't any 3 bedder for rent. If the tenant wants to keep to same condo, it may not be as easy for them to find a replacement property, so actually in this sense you have some leverage. But if they are open to all developments in the East, then maybe their threat to leave is more "real"

Has the tenancy being agreed for renewal already?

Disclaimer though as there is limited info here, without full context, so you have to factor that in when reading, that I don't have all the full info so my inputs may not be fully relevant to your situation

Warm Regards,

Ivan Ng Realtor
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Thanks for sharing, happy to follow up via email/ whatsapp.

I'm a Harvard graduated real estate agent with a degree in economics, and I have a decade of experience working on Singapore public policy. I would love to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options if you need any support.

Kay Cloud
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Propnex Realty Pte Ltd
cloud@propnex.com
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Whatsapp -> https://wa.me/6585674585 Read More

✔1 First, separate **two issues clearly**: rental price vs repair obligations. Maintenance (e.g. aircon replacement) is typically the landlord’s responsibility and should not automatically justify a lower rent unless it affects livability

✔2 Based on past transactions ($5.5K–$6.2K), your current agreed rent of $5.3K already appears **below market**, especially if no major renovation was promised initially

✔3 You are not obligated to proceed — you can **decline the renewal terms** and:

* renegotiate at a higher rent

* offer renewal “as-is” without major upgrades

* or allow tenant to vacate and re-market the unit

✔4 If proceeding with the same tenant, consider structuring clearly:

* rent at $5.3K → tenant accepts current condition (minimal repairs only)

* OR higher rent → landlord agrees to upgrade items like aircon

✔5 Regarding the agent:

* ask for **justification (comparative market data)**

* clarify **why repairs were introduced into negotiation**

* if unsatisfied, you can **replace the agent before renewal is signed**

✔6 Practically:

* getting a new tenant may achieve closer to $5.5K–$6K

* but factor in vacancy period + agent fees + renovation cost
→ compare this vs keeping current tenant

✔7 Most important:
protect your mother by ensuring **all terms are clearly written before signing**, including what repairs are included or excluded

“Do not be guided by what you wish for, but by what you are willing to accept.” — Naval Ravikant
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