iPhone 5S in Singapore

Apple's new iPhone, iPhone 5S, is announced. iPhone 5S is equipped with A7 Processor which, according to Apple. provides desktop level performance. It also has a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1,136 x 640 pixels, a 8-megapixel rear camera and dual LED. iPhone 5S comes in 3 colors: black, white and gray.

Release date? Both iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, a low cost iPhone model announced with iPhone 5S, are expected to be released on September 20 2013. The iPhone is usually made available to the public in major markets including US, Canada, France, Japan, Hong Kong, UK, and Singapore, around a week after the official announcement[1]:

If one connects the dots, Nikkei, the Japanese business publication had earlier suggested that Apple would release the iPhone 5S and the low cost iPhone or iPhone 5C on September 20 in Japan, indicating that the first wave of the new iPhone's release would commence on the same day. Greece-based website, Techmaniacs had also confirmed that the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C would launch on September 20.

The iPhone 5C with 16 gigabytes of memory will start at $99 with a two-year US carrier contract and $549 without a contract -- $100 less than previous iPhone base models.

The top-line iPhone 5S, which starts at $199 with a contract for US buyers and $649 without one, "is the most forward thinking phone we have ever created," said Apple vice president Phil Schiller.

Singtel, M1 and StarHub has announced that they are accepting registrations of interest for the new iPhone 5S and 5C.

Interested customers can register their interest for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C online on SingTel, StarHub or M1 sites today. Starhub customers can pre-order the new iPhones on Friday.

The telcos did not release contract prices of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C yet.

Pricing & Availability (From Apple Press Release)
iPhone 5s comes in gold, silver or space gray, and will be available in the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model and $399 (US) for the 64GB model.⁵ iPhone 5s will be available from the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPhone 5s cases will be available in beige, black, blue, brown, yellow and (RED) for a suggested retail price of $39 (US) through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. iPhone 5s will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore and the UK on Friday, September 20. A new iPhone 4S 8GB model will also be available for free.⁵ iOS 7 will be available as a free software update starting on Wednesday, September 18 for iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and iPod touch (fifth generation). Some features may not be available on all products.

Apple's invitation for September 10 event

[1] -  iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S: More evidence suggests September 20 release date

Changes to COE to Category A announced

In a press release titled New Criteria For Category A Cars, Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced the new changes to COE (Certificate of Entitlements) system. The engine capacity of the car should sill not exceed 1,600 cylinder capacity (cc) but additionally the engine power of the car should not exceed 97 kilowatts (kW) (equivalent to about 130 brake horsepower (bhp)).

So Category A now covers cars up to 1,600 cc and 97 kw (130 bhp) and Category B covers cars above 1,600 cc or 97 kw (130 bhp). This change to COE will mean that nearly half of today's mass market cars would be reclassified as premium models, or fall under the COE Category B (for cars with 1,600cc and above).

The Certificate of Entitlement or COE is the quota license received from a successful winning bid in a sealed bid uniform price auction which grants the legal right of the holder to register, own and use a vehicle in Singapore for a period of 10 years. Before buying a new vehicle, potential owners in Singapore are required by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to first place a monetary bid for a Certificate of Entitlement. The number of available COEs is governed by a quota system called the Vehicle Quota System (VQS) and is announced by LTA in April of each year with a review in October for possible adjustments for the period of one year starting from May. Approximately one-twelfth of the yearly quota is auctioned off each month in a sealed-bid, uniform price auction system and successful bidders pay the lowest winning bid.

LTA also said that although it acknowledged that many who were consulted favoured cars to be categorised based on their Open Market Value (OMV) it is not practical to use the OMV of a car model for categorisation as OMV can fluctuate quite significantly for different batches of the same car, due to variations in exchange rates and car model specifications. LTA has also announced that it will not implement a surcharge on multiple car ownership.

So which current Cat A car models are moving into Cat B?  Below is a list from LTA showing category A car models registered in 2012 that would have been moved to Cat B under the new criteria.

Make	Model	Average Engine Capacity (cc)	Average Engine Power
			kW	bhp
Lotus	ELISE	1,598	100	134
Mazda	RX8	1308	158	212
Volvo	V60	1596	132	177
Volvo	S80	1596	132	177
Peugeot	RCZ	1598	123	164
Fiat	500 ABARTH	1368	132	177
Citroen	DS5	1598	115	154
Audi	A1 S-TRONIC	1390	136	182
Volkswagen	TIUGAN	1390	110	148
Volkswagen	GOLF	1390	118	158
Volkswagen	TOURAN SPORT	1,390	125	168
Mini	COOPER S	1598	135	182
Mercedes-Benz	C180	1596	115	154
BMW	118i	1598	125	168
Peugeot	5008	1598	115	154
Peugeot	508	1598	115	154
Citroen	DS4	1598	118	158
Opel	ASTRA 1.6	1598	132	177
Citroen	C5	1598	115	154
BMW	116i	1598	100	134
Volkswagen	SCIROCCO	1,390	118	158
Alfa Romeo	GIULIETTA	1368	125	168
Mercedes-Benz	B200	1595	115	154
Opel	ZAFIRA TOURER	1362	103	138
Volkswagen	JETTA	1390	118	158
Peugeot	308 TURBO	1598	118	158
Volkswagen	POLO	1390	103	138
Peugeot	3008	1598	115	154
Volkswagen	TOURAN	1390	103	138
Skoda	FABIA RS	1390	132	177
Opel	ASTRA 1.4	1,363	103	138
Citroen	DS3 1.6	1598	115	154
Citroen	GRAND C4 PICASSO	1598	115	154
Alfa Romeo	MITO	1368	99	133
Fiat	BRAVO	1368	103	138
Hyundai	VELOSTER FS	1591	137	184
Hyundai	VELOSTER	1591	103	138
Suzuki	SWIFT SPORT 1.6	1586	100	134
Proton	EXORA	1561	103	138
Seat	IBIZA	1390	121	162

Pacquiao-Rios: The Clash in Cotai

This November Fighter of the Decade Congressman Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and former world champion and reigning hellion Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios will battle each other in a 12-round clash at Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. Named "Pacquiao VS. Rios: The Clash in Cotai", the fight will be Pacquiao's first fight outside the U.S. since his 12-round super featherweight unanimous decision victory over former world champion Oscar Larios in 2006 in the Philippines! Rios, one of boxing's most exciting fighters, has only had one fight outside the U.S. back in 2008 in Mexico, where he won a 10-round split decision over Ricardo Dominguez.

An event not to be missed, the exhilarating match marks Pacquiao's road to redemption after his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. It is also Rios' only fight outside the U.S apart from his match in Mexico when he won a 10-round split decision over Ricardo Dominguez.

Cotai Arena, which seats 15,000, is part of the 40-story, $2.4 billion luxury resort, The Venetian Macao, the largest single structure hotel building in Asia and the largest casino in the world.

Singapore fans can be part of the exhilarating action by purchasing tickets to the live broadcast of the historic showdown at Marina Bay Sands. Marina Bay Sands will be the only venue in Singapore for viewers to experience the momentous match live on the big screen featuring two of boxing’s most electrifying fighters. Held at the expansive Hall E of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, tickets are priced at S$98 for 

Ringside VIP tickets, S$68 for Sports Garden tickets and S$38 for Stadium Seat tickets.

Notre Dame de Paris musical in Singapore Marina Bay Sands

The musical spectacular Notre Dame de Paris, which has become a phenomenon across the world cutting through generations, will open at the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Grand Theatre on 17 December, 2013. Performed for the first time in Singapore in English this majestical show tells the story of Quasimodo the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Esmeralda the Gypsy girl, in one of the most powerful love stories in history on par with Romeo and Juliet. Tickets are now on sale.

Since premiering in Paris, France in September 1998, the musical has attracted audiences of more than 3 million in France alone and broken box office records in Canada, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and South Korea surpassing 10 million spectators while combined sales of soundtrack and cast albums have reached the 10 million mark.

Notre Dame de Paris has been staged over 4000 times in 20 other countries, including Italy, Great Britain and the United States, receiving standing ovations every night. Faithful to Victor Hugo’s classic novel Notre Dame de Paris, the show tells the emotionally charged story of the unfortunate Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral Bell Ringer, the hunchback Quasimodo, and his hopeless devotion for the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda. Phoebus, the untruthful soldier and Frollo, the priest torn between his faith to God and his desires will compete for Esmeralda’s love. While Clopin, the leader of the refugees or underclass, and Gringoire the poet will try to save Esmeralda.

The musical spectacular is the creation of lyricist Luc Plamondon and composer Richard Cocciante, whom have both won numerous awards for their work and is directed by Gilles Maheu. The English lyrics were written by Will Jennings, Oscar-winner for “My heart Will Go On” from the smash-hit film Titanic.

Notre Dame de Paris musical Singapore Marina Bay Sands Ticket Prices and Schedule

The performance will start on December 17th 2013 and will be performed at 08:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday. Saturday and Sunday there will also be performance at 02:00 PM. Ticket prices are:

$175 for Premium
$150 for A Reserve
$125 for B Reserve
$95 for C Reserve
$55 for D Reserve

“It’s a well-known story which stands up on its own and doesn’t need to be explained. That’s why there
area at least a dozen films based on the Victor Hugo novel, from the silent era to the recent Disney animation,” said Luc Plamandon.

Reminiscent of The Beauty and the Beast and presaging The Phantom of the Opera, Notre Dame de Paris remains a poignant and powerful myth with some of the interwoven storylines being more relevant today than ever: asylum-seekers, racism, the role of religion, the fear of the unknown and man’s place in an ever-changing world.

Riccardo Cocciante beautiful melodies will leave a long lasting impression on local audiences. Featuring more than 54 vivid arias of operatic beauty and rock resonance, the characters are brought to life through stunning vocal performances and visual spectacle – courtesy of the show’s seven principal artistes and 24 dancers and acrobats.



The show will feature acrobatic contemporary dance choreography by Martino Muller, renowned modern dance visionary, contrasting with a beautiful love story moments to create an audience experience reminiscent of French cirque. Dancers appear to be flying across the stage under fantastic arcs, freely incorporating gymnastics, contemporary and even break dance moves into their repertoire – at one moment whirling across the floor in a series of pirouettes, and the next tumbling from a bungee rope high above the stage.

The show will be presented on a grand scale at the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. The modern impressionistic stage set features a 12 metre high ‘climbing wall’ representing the façade of the grand cathedral of Notre Dame as well as the famous Bastille prison in Paris. This amazing edifice is also
the platform for a series of stunning acrobatic routines that will leave the audience breathless.

Notre Dame de Paris, the musical spectacular, stands out because of the masterful staging and artistic integrity of director Gilles Maheu, who has revived the 170-year old with contemporary touches and deft inspiration incorporating choreographies by Martino Muller and costumes designed by Fred Sathal and set by Christian Ratz.

The English language album, featuring the main stars of the London production, also features guest star Celine Dion singing “Live for the One I Love”.

Hit musical, rock-show, opera, concept-album or gothic melodrama, Notre-Dame de Paris retains traditional theatrical elements while using modern staging techniques and choreography to present eternal, universal, mythical tales and themes.

Royal Caribbean Summer 2014 Asia Cruise Season

Royal Caribbean International announced its summer 2014 Asia cruise season for Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas, the largest cruise ships in the Pacific Ocean. They will be serving cruises from Shanghai (Baoshan), Beijing (Tianjin), Hong Kong, and Singapore with many onboard entertainment options such as DreamWorks Experience and signature onboard amenities as they embark on an incomparable vacation to Korea, Japan or Taiwan. Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas’ summer 2014 Asia season is now open for sale.

“We are delighted to offer Asia vacations that cannot be found anywhere except on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests of all ages will enjoy the DreamWorks Experience, a wide range of signature Royal Caribbean onboard amenities, and our award-winning entertainment and family programming. Throughout, every member of the staff and crew will deliver our world-renowned friendly and engaging GOLD Anchor Service on an unforgettable Asia vacation.”

Both Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas are among six Royal Caribbean ships that exclusively feature the DreamWorks Experience at sea.  Guests can partake in parades, themed activities and other onboard events based on DreamWorks Animation’s popular feature-film characters, including Po of “Kung Fu Panda;” Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of “Shrek;” and Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, and the Penguins from “Madagascar.” Each ship also is equipped with a 3-D movie theater playing the latest DreamWorks Animation films.

Royal Caribbean’s younger guests in the complimentary and award-winning Adventure Ocean children’s program can relish in an exhilarating line-up of activities, games and adventures rooted in the popular DreamWorks Animation films. Guests of all ages can meet their favorite characters over the DreamWorks Character breakfast in the main dining room and take advantage of plenty of photo opportunities throughout the day. Additionally, guests can tune-in to DreamWorks Animation programming on a dedicated RCTV channel in every stateroom.

Additionally, Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas are among Royal Caribbean’s Voyager class of ships, which first introduced the active cruise vacation concept. The ships feature iconic Royal Caribbean International amenities such as the rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink, a nine-hole mini-golf course, full-size basketball and sports court, and the Royal Promenade, a boulevard that stretches nearly the length of the ship and flanked by restaurants, lounges and boutiques.

Mariner of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas also uniquely offer guests the industry’s largest and most premium selection of duty-free shopping. Guests have a choice of more than 10 of the world’s best-known brands’ cosmetic and perfume lines, designer accessories and fine leather handbags from Coach, Burberry and Michael Kors, and nearly 30 brands of high-end watches. Mariner of the Seas also offers the first standalone IWC Schaffhausen boutique and the largest luxury and fashion watch store at sea.

Each ship’s Casino Royale also has been enhanced to deliver the next level of world-class gaming. Guests can join in more than 30 table games and have a choice of up to 292 slot machines throughout the 9,600 sq. ft. space. Additionally, high-rollers also will have exclusive access to parlors for high-stakes gaming in comfort, style and privacy.

From March through November 2014, Mariner of the Seas will sail roundtrip Korea cruises from Shanghai (Baoshan) on three- to six-night itineraries that call at Seoul (Incheon), Busan, Jeju Island, or Yeosu (Gangyang). The ship’s summer season will conclude with an eight-night sailing from Shanghai (Baoshan) to Singapore, departing Nov. 4, 2014, with ports of call at Xiamen and Hong Kong, China, and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Vietnam.

For its part, Voyager of the Seas will start the summer 2014 season with a 10-night itinerary departing Singapore on April 10 to Tokyo, Japan, with calls at Hong Kong, Kaohsiung and Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan, and Nagasaki, Japan. The ship will then sail a six-night South Korea and Nagoya (Japan) itinerary, roundtrip from Tokyo on April 20, followed by two Japan cruises, a four-night itinerary from Tokyo to Taipei (Keelung) departing May 5, and a seven-night roundtrip itinerary from Taipei (Keelung) departing May 9.

From June through Sept. 2014, Voyager of the Seas will sail four- to six-night Korea itineraries roundtrip from Beijing (Tianjin), and call at Seoul (Incheon), Yeosu (Gangyang), Busan, and Jeju Island, South Korea. The ship will then sail a seven-night Japan and Korea cruise from Beijing (Tianjin) to Hong Kong on Sept. 10, followed by four-, five- and seven-night Japan and Taiwan cruises roundtrip from Hong Kong throughout Sept. and early Oct. 2014.

Singapore will host WTA Championships in 2014

Singapore will be taking over from Turkey to host the Women Tennis Association Championships, also known as WTA Championships, from 2014 to 2018. The WTA Championship has been labeled as the most prestigious championship beside the 4 Grand Slams; Australian Open (January), the French Open (May/June), Wimbledon (June/July), and the US Open (August/September).

Most of the top 10 ranked ladies players will be taking part in this well known competition and Singapore will be expecting many tennis fans flocking to the island to catch a glimpse of the Top 10 single players; 1) Serena Williams, 2) Victoria Azarenka, 3) Maria Sharapova, 4) Agnieszka Radwanska, 5) Sara Errani, 6) Li Na, 7) Marion Bartoli, 8) Caroline Wozniack, 9) Petra Kvitova and 10) Angelique Kerber.

Singapore is being given the rights to host the WTA Championship from 2014 to 2018. This has generated a lot of excitement in the ladies tennis scene. The organisor of the competition will definitely be training and recruiting many players and volunteers (with tennis knowledge) to support in the tournament as ball girls, other roles.

This recruitment plan has driven up the number of sign-ups for ladies tennis lessons and kids tennis lessons. Most likely, students are fans of Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Li Na and other top ranked ladies players who will be completing in the Singapore Tournament.

Recently, ápice Tennis Club has received many requests from parents to send their kids to learn basic tennis so that their kids will have an added advantage to be involved in the WTA Championship as volunteers or supporting staff.

One thing for sure is that the number of enquiry and sign-ups will increase as the date draws nearer to the WTA Championships in 2014.

Singapore Flood 2013

Heavy rain on Thursday resulted in flood in Singapore and lots of traffic jams in some areas. Unusually heavy torrential rains lasting an hour and 15 minutes, began at 8.15 am. Western Singapore was worst effected. Kent Ridge near NUS received heaviest rainfall while a section of the Ayer Rajah Expressway:

Motorists travelling towards town on the AYE encountered massive congestion before Clementi, with electronic road signs announcing that the three-lane expressway was closed after the Clementi exit. The PUB said that drains overflowed at the AYE due to the intense rainfall and rising tide, with flood waters reaching a depth of half a metre, and subsided within 40 minutes.
Source : Flash floods hit several areas in western Singapore

Kent Ridge MRT station was flooded and waters at the National University of Singapore campus reached knee-deep levels at the science faculty blocks on Lower Kent Ridge Road, near the National University Hospital (NUH).

Here is the PUB statement on flash floods in Singapore on September 5 2013:

Heavy rain fell over the central and western parts of Singapore this morning from 8.15am to 9.30am. The heaviest rainfall was recorded at Kent Ridge with a rainfall of 102.8mm from 8.10am to 9.40am. It peaked between 8.15am to 8.50am, with a rainfall of 82.2mm.

Flash floods were reported at the following locations:
- Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) 9.6km, towards East Coast Parkway (ECP)
- Commonwealth Avenue/Lane/Drive
- Junction of South Bridge Road and Maxwell Road
- Junction of Cuscaden Road and Tomlinson Road
- Alexandra Road, towards Lower Delta Road (near Ganges Avenue)
- Lorong Kismis

The areas most affected by the flash floods were the AYE and Commonwealth Avenue.  At the AYE, the drains overflowed due to the intense rainfall and rising tide.  Flood waters reached a depth of half a metre and subsided within 40 minutes.  All four lanes of AYE towards ECP were closed to traffic during the flood. PUB has plans to upgrade the Sungei Pandan Kechil, which serves this section of the AYE.

For Commonwealth Avenue, PUB has scheduled drainage improvement works, which will commence in 4th Quarter 2013 and are expected to complete by 1st half of 2015.

A Facebook post yesterday saying "avoid
Commonwealth area"

Today on September 6 2013, all parts of Singapore is covered with heavy thundery showers and floods may be repeated. Actually at the moment NEA weather forecast shows all towns with thundery showers! Thundery showers also indicate that there is an imminent risk of lightning for that sector/town centre. So it is best to avoid outdoor activities, open waters and pools today.

It is also expected that thundery showers will stay over Singapore in the next 3 days.

World’s Largest Indoor Skydiving Wind Tunnel: iFly Singapore

"Measuring 16.5 feet in diameter with a flying height of 56.5 feet, the equivalent of five storeys, iFly Singapore is the world's largest vertical wind tunnel" says the official web site of this Singapore attraction which was launched in May 2011. And now Guinness World Records confirms this: iFly Singapore is now officially the World’s Largest Indoor Skydiving Wind Tunnel.

The iFly Singapore’s wind tunnel has the capacity to accommodate up to 20 professional flyers at any one time. In December last year iFly Singapore hosted the inaugural Indoor Skydiving World Championships. This event saw the introduction of the first international indoor skydiving championships in Asia Pacific as well as the first tandem skydiving event on the Palawan Beach, Sentosa.

Lawrence Koh, Founder and Managing Director of iFly Singapore said, “We are thrilled to be recognised by the Guinness World Records as the World’s Largest Indoor Skydiving Wind Tunnel. We are very proud of all the milestones that we have achieved over the past 2 years, but this is particularly satisfying and really puts iFly Singapore on the map.”

IFly Singapore on Sentosa Island is world's largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel.

iFly Singapore has hosted more than 96,000 visitors since its openning and over 45% of these visitors have been Singaporeans.  The state of the art wind tunnel allows anyone from first time flyers, to professional skydivers, the opportunity to fly in an easily accessible, realistic, safe and affordable setting over-looking the South China Sea.

 “It’s an exciting time for iFly Singapore and we have many projects that we will be launching in the coming months. Last year’s World Championships were a resounding success. As a result of the World Championships we have seen more people taking up the sport of indoor skydiving, with returning and professional flyers now featuring as 25% per cent of our market and we are looking forward to hosting the World Championships again next year . I started this business to share my love of flight with everyone, and making this a safe and wonderful experience for all is still at the core of everything we do,” added Mr. Koh.

iFly Singapore is a part of the global franchise of SkyVenture, which has over 32 tunnels in operation and under construction around the world. 

Wally Bayola Scandal Video with EB Babe's Yosh

Wally Bayola is trending up and high today in Google Searches. Wally Bayola and EB Babe dancer Yosh's sex video scandal circulates online and many are looking for his name with "scandal" to watch the Wally Bayola Scandal video. Filipino actor, singer, comedian, and television host Wally Bayola, known for his noon-time television variety show Eat Bulaga!, has an uploaded scandal video on the internet with first appearing on YouTube.

Latest 6:14-minute sex video features a couple, who look like Wally and  EB Babe Yosh. The 41 year-old comedian who is married and Yosh is a member of Eat Bulaga’s girl group dancers EB Babe. The scandal video came one month after an intimate video featuring singer Chito Miranda and his girlfriend, actress Neri Naig.

It seems like celebrity couples do not draw necessary lessons from all these video scandals? The video clearly shows that the Bayola and Yosh are the ones recording their pleasure moments. The video is more shocking this time because it is documenting an extramarital affair between two talents of the daily noontime show “Eat Bulaga”. Wally has been married to nurse Riza Ruen Bayola since 1995 and have five children, the eldest of whom is 18.

Wally Bayola and EB Babe ‘Yosh’ Scandal

Wally Bayola was absent from “Eat Bulaga” on Tuesday. Yosh's Facebook fan page was also deactivated on Tuesday. According to philstar.com Wally Bayola will not be seen in the noontime variety “Eat Bulaga” temporarily:

According to a report aired on GMA 7’s news program “24 Oras” on Tuesday, September 3, Bayola’s manager and TAPE Inc’s Senior Vice President Malou Choa Fagar said the comedian will lie low from the program. 

This is after a sex video scandal allegedly involving Bayola and EB Babes member Yosh Rivera became viral online early this week. 

Bayola was not present during the Monday, September 2, and Tuesday, September 3 episodes of “Eat Bulaga.”

How to not pay property agent fee when renting a flat in Singapore?

Elbert is renewing his contract in the HDB flat he is renting. As he did every year, he will need to pay agent fee to the agent although he is not finding a new flat. He will simply continue in the flat he is renting but he will still need to pay for it anyway. He is not alone. I think this bizarre setting is a common in Singapore but there is a way to avoid it for tenants. Actually, the renting tip I will share here is also used when you are renting a new unit.

There are 2 types of agents in Singapore : landlord agents and tenant agents. By law an agent cannot charge agent fee from both parties. If you do not want to pay for property agent fee when you are renting a place, look for landlord agents and directly deal with them. Finding them is quite easy: just ask the agent when you call. I ask "are you landlord agent?". If the property agent you call ask you "are you an agent or tenant looking for a place?" he/she is probably a landlord agent.

I have rented my current unit like that. A new (6 years old at the time) HDB flat for 2,500 SGD per month. I found the landlord agent and directly dealed with them. So I have saved 1,250 SGD from the transaction. Later when I renewed my contract I did not pay agent fee also.

But isn't there a drawback? If a dispute arises you won't have a tenant agent to help you? Well even if you used an agent on your side in the transaction, this agent will not care a bit about your dispute with your landlord anyway. So it is not a big deal not to have a tenant agent.