When studying abroad in Singapore, where to live? Must-knows about student accommodations in Singapore

Among the top concerns of international students, nothing compares to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Among these, where to live will greatly affect the quality of student life and learning.

In Singapore, due to limited land resources, only a few schools have their own on-campus dormitories. Therefore, students studying in Singapore usually need to find their own rental accommodation.

In Singapore, there are three common types of accommodations for international students: homestays, student dormitories, and government housing.

Today, let’s introduce these three types of accommodations to students and parents.

01 Homestay

For young students who are new to Singapore, especially minors under the age of 18, if parents are unable to accompany them to Singapore, choosing a homestay is a safe and worry-free option.

Main services:

Temporary guardianship to care for children; Provide guidance on academics and courses; Not only provide accommodation, but also provide meals, help with daily cleaning, laundry, and other chores for children; Also provide services such as airport pick-up.

Applicable student groups: Students aged 13 to 19 in middle and tertiary education. At this age, parents are generally not comfortable with students living independently, and the possibility of parents accompanying them is relatively low.

Considerations for selection:

The homeowner is a local or Permanent Resident (PR), making it convenient for the child’s guardianship; Distance from school, within half an hour, can save commuting time and transportation costs; The homeowner has more free time to help with parent-teacher meetings and vaccinations, and ideally can take the child out; It is best to have an apartment or landed property, not only for good living environment, but also for high safety, and comprehensive facilities downstairs; The homeowner has experience with children, so parents can rest assured when leaving their children with them; The homeowner is fluent in both Mandarin and English, as children may not be accustomed when they first arrive, so they need a guardian who is bilingual to help them adjust; The homeowner has an educational background or attaches importance to education.

In summary, when looking for a homestay, it is not just about providing a place for children to eat and sleep, but it is a very important role. It is best to conduct on-site inspections and see what the neighbors think of the homeowner.

Advantages:

Comprehensive service, suitable for young students or students unfamiliar with the Singapore environment to adapt to student life; Provides guardianship, allowing parents to understand the student’s academic and extracurricular life.

Disadvantages:

Relatively high price; In order to entrust the child to the homestay with peace of mind, parents need to spend time and effort to investigate the situation of the homestay during the preparation period; Some homestays have no guarantee of quality, and there may be serious discrepancies between actual operation and publicity, so careful selection is required.

02 Student Dormitories

In Singapore, the only schools that truly provide school dormitories are Hwa Chong International School and MDIS Singapore Management Development Institute.

For example, MDIS dormitories are designed specifically for students, and students living in dormitories can enjoy the life and learning pleasures of the institute. These dormitories also accept applications from students from other schools, but the quota is limited.

In Singapore, there is a type of student dormitory provided by private institutional brands, which provide international students with a variety of accommodation options.

Living specifications: Generally 1-6 people per room, common room types are single room/double room/triple room/four-room/six-room.

Advantages:

Rich facilities, conducive to students’ extracurricular activities; Pure student environment, conducive to healthy social life of students; Student apartments will provide free internet, security equipment, gymnasium, laundry room, leisure area, dining area, food storage area, card access, etc., providing more protection for property and personal safety; Students living in dormitories can enjoy the life and learning pleasures of the institute. In addition to the convenience facilities mentioned above, students can also use facilities such as dance rooms, conference rooms, barbecue areas, music rooms, auditoriums, rooftop gardens, and gymnasiums.

Disadvantages:

Living in a non-single room may result in random matching of roommates, which is not conducive to regular rest if there are large differences in daily routines; Some apartments do not provide open visits before students move in (because there are still students moving in), so you can only see the real room when you move in.

03 Government Housing

These are housing developed by the Singapore government for public living, divided into single rooms, two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom apartments, etc.

Considering the income and cost of living, Singapore’s transportation and supporting facilities will prioritize government housing. Schools, supermarkets, small clinics, food courts, and sports and entertainment facilities are all complete. Each housing estate has bus stops and subway stations, making transportation very convenient.

Advantages:

Relatively cheaper than other rental methods; Higher degree of freedom for student accommodation, can expand living circles beyond campus, interact with local Singaporeans, and expand social circles.

Disadvantages:

Compared to other rental methods, the guarantee of student life quality is not as good.

Rental precautions

Rental policy

For HDB two-bedroom units (including bedrooms and living rooms), the maximum number of tenants does not exceed 4, and for other room types, the maximum number cannot exceed 6, including homeowners and tenants (starting from January 22, 2024, four-room units have been adjusted to 8 people); The maximum number of tenants in apartments cannot exceed 6.

Singapore has strict restrictions on the number of tenants, especially for HDBs, because they involve national welfare housing, so everyone must confirm whether the number of people exceeds the limit, otherwise it will be very troublesome to be revoked.

House rental period

The minimum rental period for apartments is no less than 3 months; the minimum rental period for HDBs is no less than 6 months.

Short-term rentals of less than 3 months are actually illegal, so don’t take over someone else’s remaining rental period for the sake of being cheap!

Rental tax

The rental includes content (ask whether water, electricity, and internet fees are included in the rent. Electricity in Singapore is very expensive, especially in apartments. It may cost four to five hundred yuan a month).

Stamp duty, the specific amount will account for about 0.4% of the contract rent, to be paid by the tenant within 14 days after signing the contract.

In the latest update, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has clearly stated: Tenants renting a house need to pay stamp duty. In the process of payment, the rental contract will be uploaded, which recognizes the validity of the contract, and the landlord cannot make other requirements due to overbearing terms.

In addition, apartments for rent do not need to report the address, only HDB needs, and it is the homeowner who reports the address to HDB. This is HDB’s requirement for homeowners of HDBs for rent.

Students without a Singapore visa can only ask the landlord to transfer stamp duty when renting an apartment. This tax is cumbersome, but it must be paid. Otherwise, if something happens, you will be fined, and the amount of this fine is borne by the tenant.