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Renting a Condo in Singapore: Check the Rules Before You Sign

Condos are private homes, and URA sets their rules. They differ from HDB: the minimum stay is shorter and the occupancy cap depends on floor area. Check the rules first, then talk about location and budget.

URA rules

  • •Lease: every occupant must stay at least 3 consecutive months; daily or weekly rentals are not allowed 1.
  • •Occupancy: units under 90 sqm can house up to 6 unrelated persons, and a domestic helper counts as part of the family 1.
  • •Units of 90 sqm or more can house up to 8 persons once the owner registers and pays a S$20 fee. This is a temporary relaxation from 22 January 2024 to 31 December 2028 1.
  • •The condo's management corporation (MCST) may have its own by-laws, such as tenant registration, so ask before you sign 1.

Tenancy agreement and stamp duty

  • •The landlord and the tenant sign the tenancy agreement. The CEA template is a guide and is not compulsory 2.
  • •The agreement must be stamped with IRAS. Leases with an average annual rent of S$1,000 or less are exempt; for a lease of 4 years or less, duty is 0.4% of the total rent 3.
  • •Stamping is due within 14 days of signing, or within 30 days of receiving the document in Singapore if it was signed overseas 4.
  • •The tenancy agreement states who pays the stamp duty; if it does not, the tenant pays 7.

Agents act for one side only

  • •In the same rental, a property agent can act for the landlord or the tenant, not both 5.
  • •Commission is not fixed and can be negotiated, and it is set in the CEA prescribed estate agency agreement. Only GST-registered agencies can charge GST 5.
  • •Commission is paid to the agency, not the individual agent; the deposit and rent go directly to the landlord 5.
  • •Before signing, you can check that the agent is registered on CEA's Public Register 6.

How HITP helps

  • •We shortlist by area, commute and budget. Every listing we show is authorised by the owner or a licensed agent and checked unit by unit 8.
  • •We arrange in-person or video viewings, and our consultant records the condition of the home item by item 8.
  • •Before you move in, we go through the deposit, repair and early termination clauses with you 8.
  • •Our service fee is quoted for your case; the deposit and rent go directly to the landlord under the tenancy agreement 9.

FAQ

No. URA requires a minimum stay of 3 consecutive months for private homes 1.

In a unit under 90 sqm the cap is 6 unrelated persons, so three is within it 1. Check whether the MCST has any extra by-laws 1.

Whoever the tenancy agreement names; if it names no one, the law makes the tenant liable 7.

The landlord, directly, by a traceable method such as bank transfer. The agent should not handle it 5.

It is quoted for your case. After the assessment we list our fee separately from what you pay the landlord, the agency and IRAS, and you confirm before signing.

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Message us "Assess" (评估) and a consultant will set out your options with an itemised written quote. Your first assessment is free.

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Sources (checked 5 Nov 2026)

  1. [1] URA · Renting out private residential property — https://www.ura.gov.sg/guidelines/property-and-business-owners/property/renting-property/　updated 2026-06-15
  2. [2] CEA · Renting or renting out a private residential property on your own — https://www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/transacting-on-your-own/renting-or-renting-out-a-private-residential-property/　updated 2026-07-22
  3. [3] IRAS · Stamp duty: renting a property — https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/stamp-duty/for-property/renting-a-property　updated 页面未标日期，11/5 读取
  4. [4] IRAS · When to pay stamp duty — https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/stamp-duty/for-property/paying-stamp-duty/when-to-pay-stamp-duty　updated 页面未标日期，11/5 读取
  5. [5] CEA · What to take note of when engaging a property agent — https://cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/what-to-take-note-of-when-engaging-a-property-agent　updated 2026-05-13
  6. [6] CEA · Consumer guide on residential rental transactions (PDF) — https://www.cea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/consumer-guide-on-residential-rental-transactions-(a4)3aec2f33f22f6eceb9b0ff0000fcc945.pdf　updated PDF 未标日期
  7. [7] IRAS · Who should pay stamp duty — https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/stamp-duty/for-property/basics-of-stamp-duty-for-property/who-should-pay-stamp-duty　updated 页面未标日期，11/5 读取
  8. [8] HITP · 租房服务（HITP 自有页面，非政府） — https://www.sghitp.com/rent/　updated 11/5 读取
  9. [9] HITP · 收费标准（HITP 自有页面，非政府） — https://www.sghitp.com/fees/　updated 11/5 读取

Government fees and rules are as published by the authorities; figures on this page were checked on the dates shown. Service fees are quoted in writing for each case.