AskGuru Q&A Community

Hi John,

Sorry to hear about your situation. Do you mean that your tenant has informed you that they will not be returning to Singapore and there is still another 12 months to go before the tenancy expires?

I'd reckon the best way now to move forward is to restore the apartment as best as you can and as soon as possible so that you will be able to place the next tenant in to minimise the loss.

As for claiming in SCT or engaging a lawyer, it may also prove futile if the tenant does not return to Singapore and enforcement of whatever damages you are awarded may not be materialised too. Worst case is that you will still be required to pay the legal fees incurred.

I have a similar situation just about 3 weeks back where tenant terminated the lease prematurely. Swift actions were taken to repossess the apartment and we started to look out for new tenants while settling the differences with the outgoing tenant where they only agreed to compensate $800 for the damages incurred. I am glad to say that we have received an offer from a new tenant yesterday and we are currently in discussion to finalise the next tenancy.

I have been in the real estate business since 2009, with more than 10years of experience serving the Singapore real estate market.

I am very active in the residential segment of Singapore real estate market, having transacted hundreds of deals from HDBs to private condominiums and landed properties in Singapore, and have handled many unique cases in sales and purchases as well as rental deals.

Over the years, I have also established a network reaching out to more than 9,400 expatriates, bringing my market presence to both in and outside of Singapore. This has created an additional exposure when I manage my client's portfolios, on top of the conventional on and offline platforms, where other estate agents are relying on. This has allowed me to consistently convert leads into results.

With an evolving market, where change is the only constant, I have also been investing in upgrading of my knowledge and skills sets to improve myself and meet the demands of current and future market.

We are offering our clients a complimentary first consultation without obligations (Absolutely FREE!). Schedule for your FREE session today!

Warmest regards,
Geryl Lim
Associate Deputy Group Director
Salesperson Registration No. R014783H
Email: geryl.lim@orangetee.com / geryl7772@gmail.com
OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd 430 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #01-01 OrangeTee Building Singapore 319402
Estate Agent Licence No. L3009250K
[main] +65 6471 8888  [mob] +65 81577565  [LDA] +65 92787772 
www.geryllim.com
-----
Note: We value your home as much as you do! Find out the indicative value of your home at http://bit.ly/UrHomeMatters and get monthly update on your home value. Restructure your portfolio with us, speak to us!

Tenants can visit http://bit.ly/SGExpatRental (Official Rental Requirements - Singapore Expatriates) to indicate your rental requirements.

Visit and Like my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GerylLimSince2009/ - Aspiring To Be The Best Real Estate Agent In Singapore

Pick up knowledge, skills and Real Estate concepts at https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateXcellence/

New Singapore Expatriates on facebook is up and running. Come join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/newsgexpats/

My self introductory video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6REQfdGSw
-----
Landed Dynamic Alliance
Home of *7772 Hotline
Check out our latest Landed Dynamic Alliance 7772 mobile application on iOS or Android @ http://l.ead.me/7772 Read More

Hi, I have experience the same issue before. Welcome you for a sharing at 9696 4398  . Thank you Stewart-PropNex Read More

Hi John

Doing leasing is equivalent to running your own business. It comes with risks.

The option to recovery will depend on your individual situation.
It will be a commercial decision whether to move on or to take legal action.

You may text 9620 0827  for assistance to look for new tenant.

Gavin Read More

Hi Mr Soo,

So sorry to hear about your situation.. Basically there is nothing much that you can do to claim back the 'remainder lease rental'.. You can choose to go to Small Claim Court ( depending on the rental ), but don't think you wana go thru the hassle.. The best thing to do now is to cut loss and move forward. Clean up your place and get a replacement tenant ASAP so that moving forward, you don't lose anymore rental in time to come.. My team and i have assisted few of our tenants / landlords to secure a rental unit even during Circuit Breaker . All this can be done virtually to safeguard all parties.. Please do get in touch with me for further discussion as i'm unable to contact you here. Thanks

Regards;
Lyna Song
 9623 8442 
Associate Group Director
Propnex Realty Pte Ltd
lynasong@hotmail.com Read More

Hi John, I would be most glad to assist you further and pls feel free to let me know if you need any assistance. Hope to hear from you soon and have a great week ahead. The best option now is to clean up your place and to start renting it out in the quickest possible time. Sure, you can engage a lawyer and to pursue but first, you must be prepared to pay some cost upfront and you may not even know if you could get any sum back from your previous tenant, so it’s not worth doing so. I could give you my lawyer’s contact to seek advice from if you do need one.

Regards
Aaron Chong
 9730 8455 
aaronchong2774@yahoo.com.sg Read More

Hi John,
I fully understand your problem in view of this Covid-19. Not only you alone, there are many landlords facing this problem as well. Not only tenants unable to come back, they lose their jobs, there are more break lease coming up. I would suggest no point to get a lawyer. You won't be able to claim back any unpaid rental as well because of this situation. Even when you can't get back the balance rental money, you still need to pay your lawyer fee. So what is the point of using good money to chase after bad money?
What you need is if you have his email, just send an official email terminating this lease since he is unable to come back as well, and have not been paying rental for few months. If you have the key, go into your unit, clean up your place, engage an agent to work together to get the next tenant.
I will be glad to assist. Just drop me an email or whatsapp and we can discuss. Will do my very best to get you a tenant as fast as possible after 1/6.

Kind Regards
J.A.Goh
ERA Division Director
HP: 96390350 
Email: gohja@singnet.com.sg Read More

Hi Sir
Fully understand your situation. You are free to file a SCT claim but if your client did not intent to come back to Singapore, there is not much enforcement action to be done. On addition, you also have to check whether there are any diplomatic clause stated at the tenancy agreement. Do contact me at 93375051  and I will try to assist as much as I could after I look through details of the problem you are currently facing.

Regards
Taufik Hussein
ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd Read More

Hi John,

Honestly speaking, there's nothing much SCT can do to help you claim back this rental loss. Moreover, it will be a long process, with no guarantees that you will get your money.

The most sensible thing to do now is to confiscate the security deposit, and move on to look for the next tenant asap.

Should you need require further assistance in matters relating to property, please contact me at my mobile 9748 6305  .

Thank you.

Best regards,
Robbie Chen
 9748 6305 
PropNex Realty Read More

Greetings from Ohmyhome!

You should serve a final notice to your tenant through any known contact and if they fail to respond you may forfeit the security deposit and seek a new tenant for your property.

For more information, kindly contact us at 68869009  or WhatsApp us at 97551009  .

Richmond Chia
Senior Advisor
Ohmyhome Pte Ltd Read More