Tenant loses deposit for refusing to repair already damaged floor, latest news from Singapore

A rental company allegedly demanded videos from renters with their passports and withheld deposits from those who refused to submit the video.

At least five tenants have filed a police complaint.

Ms Han, a 29-year-old who works in the construction industry, told Shin Min Daily News that she saw on an international student services platform an advertisement for a bedroom for rent on Jalan Kemaman in Balestier.

He rented it for $1,885 a month and three months’ rent up front plus one month’s rent as a security deposit. Ms. Han also paid $300 in utility bills and $150 as a security deposit for the room key card.

After she moved, Ms Han received a message from an “agent”, asking her to record a video of her holding the passport and saying her name and address.

The man sent Ms. Han a sample video, claiming that the video was for verification by the immigration office. He warned her that she would be evicted if she didn’t send him the video.

“I refused because I was worried the video could be used for illegal purposes, but he said if I didn’t do it, I would have to leave,” she said.

Ms. Han filed a police report and asked for her lease to be terminated, but the rental company allegedly refused to refund her money.

She continued to stay in her rented room for three months before moving out, but did not receive her one-month security deposit.

Ms. Han also claimed that a stranger entered her room without permission on June 22. The man had said he was there to teach him how to open the door.

He added that there were at least three other cases where someone entered his room without permission.

When she moved in, the rental company required her to restore the damaged floor, which she said was already damaged when she moved in and had notified the company.

The company claimed the floor was more damaged than before, threatening to charge him an additional $50 and not return his security deposit if he didn’t restore the floor.

Another tenant, Huang, 34, faced the same situation with the rental company.

I was renting a master bedroom in Upper Paya Lebar, paying a monthly rent of $2,620, $150 for parking, $68 for air conditioning insurance and almost $180 in service charge.

Ms. Huang later learned that the parking was free and that the $200-$300 monthly utility charges that the agent had charged her were not claimed by the rental company.

The Chinese newspaper found that at least five tenants had filed a police report.

The August 7 rental said Ms. Han’s deposit was not refunded because she breached the contract. He also insisted that he was not overcharging for utility bills and provided a list of bills for tenants.

The company also said it owned the right to the parking space, so it could charge tenants to use it. He promised to return all security deposits after tenants pay all outstanding fees.

A spokesperson told the Chinese newspaper that the demand for video verification was concerned that tenants were involved in illegal activities during their stay.

He added that tenants had canceled their leases after seeing the negative comments online and that the company was actively handling complaints.