A family of four allegedly left their Yishun condo overnight after accumulating $6,800 in rental arrears within a year.
The landlord filed a police report following their departure, while the tenants claimed they still had an $8,600 security deposit with the landlord.
Here’s what happened.
S’pore Family Rented a 2-Bedroom Yishun Condo, Defaulted on $6.8K Rental & Just Moved Out Overnight
The landlord, a 60-year-old self-employed man, rented out his two-bedroom Yishun condo to a local Chinese family in December 2023.
Both parties signed a two-year lease agreement at $4,300 monthly.
Usually, a two-year lease would require a two-month security deposit, which, in this case, is $8,600.
The family paid rent on time for the first three months.
After that, they started falling behind, paying only hundreds or slightly over a thousand dollars some months, according to the property agent.
It is not common for tenants to pay partial rent.
By 19 October, the rental arrears hit $6,800. The landlord issued an ultimatum through his agent: pay up by 21 October to continue staying in the unit.
Instead of paying, the tenants packed up and left overnight, leaving the condo in disarray.
The property agent said the tenants had promised to clear the arrears by the deadline. After they moved out, he couldn’t contact them and filed a police report on the landlord’s behalf.
Photos showed food left in the refrigerator, stains on the floor, and miscellaneous items in the cabinets after the tenants moved out.
What the Tenant Said
Shin Min Daily News managed to track down the tenant.
The tenant told Shin Min Daily News that the agent gave them 48 hours to pay up or leave, so they chose to move out within the deadline.
He pointed out their $8,600 deposit could cover the arrears.
“We moved out because we couldn’t afford the rent anymore. They still have our deposit, so they haven’t lost anything,” he said.
The property agent said the landlord considers the early move-out a breach of contract and plans to forfeit the deposit while demanding payment for the arrears. Police confirmed receiving the report.
So, what happened?
The tenant had cited the death of his mother as a reason for late payments but couldn’t provide a death certificate when asked. The landlord said he would have been understanding with proof of such circumstances.
However, here’s the twist: the property agent said the tenant also cited his daughter’s school fees and cash flow problems as reasons for late payments. The tenant denied mentioning school fees or cash flow issues but maintained his mother’s death was real.
Another dispute arose over an electronic lock the tenants installed without permission. They only provided the password before moving out. The landlord said he needs to pay for repairs, citing holes in the walls and furniture left behind.
Nevertheless, the tenant countered that the electronic lock installation benefited the landlord. “I bought a sofa, TV console, and installed privacy window films. I left these behind,” he said.
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