Family quietly moves out of Yishun condo unit to avoid paying landlord S$6,800 rent debt

Unable to pay their landlord S$6,800 in rental fees, a Singaporean family reportedly simply up and left their rented apartment in Yishun instead.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the landlord said his tenants had signed a two-year lease for the two-bedroom condominium unit in December 2023.

At first, the family dutifully paid their monthly rent of S$4,300.

But their punctual rent payments soon went down the drain.

Trouble with rent

After three months of living in the apartment, the family apparently started feeling the pinch of the rental price.

They would pay the landlord different amounts each month.

Each time their payment fell short, they would come up with various excuses, according to the landlord.

By the time Oct. 19, 2024 rolled around, they had racked up a debt of S$6,800.

At his wits' end, the landlord decided to give the family an ultimatum.

He communicated with them through a property agent, giving the family till Oct. 21 to pay up.

The tenants appeared agreeable.

Ghosted the landlord

The deadline came and went, and the landlord still did not receive his payment.

He later discovered that the family had vanished from the apartment.

They had packed up and moved out overnight, and were unresponsive to calls from the agent, reported Shin Min.

The landlord said the unit was left in a mess, with food abandoned in the refrigerator and random items in the cupboards.

There were also holes in the walls.

The police confirmed with Mothership that the agent has lodged a report.

Tenant claimed landlord profited

A member of the family told Shin Min that the landlord was still holding on to their S$8,600 deposit.

"We moved out because we couldn't afford to rent it anymore. The deposit is with [the landlord], so he didn't incur any losses," they said.

According to the agent, their deposit should be forfeited due to a breach of the rental contract.

The agent added that the family was still required to pay the remaining amount they owe the landlord.

Meanwhile, the family maintained that the landlord profited from the situation, as they had left behind furniture in the house.

They had also put in an electric lock and privacy film on the windows, all of which were done without the landlord's consent.

Top images via Shin Min Daily News