Walao eh, really need to rant here because if I don’t post this out, I think my blood pressure will burst until JB side can see. Guys, please tell me if I’m the one being unreasonable or my landlord’s brain completely short-circuit already?
So a bit of context: I’ve been renting a common room in a 4-room HDB flat for about two years now. Every month pay rent on time, never late by even one day, clean the place until shiny, and treat the landlord auntie with full respect. Never bring friends back, cook only instant noodles, keep quiet like a mouse after 10 PM. Thought everything was smooth sailing, right?
Then guess what happened last night. Renewal time coming up next month, so auntie walked into the living room holding a piece of paper with this super peaceful, smiling face like she just won TOTO Group 1.
She tells me: “Ah Boy ah, next month rent need to adjust a bit okay? From $800 increase to $1,120.”
I blinked once, blinked twice, thought my ears got problem. That one not “adjust a bit” leh! That is a straight up 40% jump! FORTY PERCENT! In what world is a 40% rent hike normal?! My company yearly appraisal give 3% salary increment only, and that one must work like dog, OT until midnight, sacrifice all my weekend sleep!
So of course, my face instantly turned black like charcoal. I stood there, completely speechless, trying to calculate in my head how I’m going to find an extra $320 every single month just to sleep on the same mattress and use the same old wall fan.
Then you know what she said next? With a totally innocent, confused face, she actually looked at me and asked: “Eh, why you so unhappy?”
… WHY AM I SO UNHAPPY?!
Walao eh Auntie! You think my money grow on trees is it? Or you think I night time print SGD in my bedroom?! You chop my salary in broad daylight, wipe out my daily cai fan budget, and then you wonder why my face look like black cloud?!
I tried to ask her politely why suddenly spike so high. You know what her reason was? “Market rate now like that mah. My friend’s neighbor also renting out for $1,200, I already give you discount liao!” Sibei solid logic right?
Being a Malaysian working in Singapore is really not easy leh. People always say 1 SGD to 3+ MYR very shiok, but they don’t see the cost of living here. MRT fare go up, food prices go up, and now landlord come and chop head some more. We come here work hard, pay taxes, stay law-abiding, but every time tenancy contract renewal come, feel like getting held at gunpoint.
Now I am totally stuck. If move out, need to spend time searching room after work, pay deposit, hire mover, maybe even pay agent fees. If stay on, means every month start eating grass for lunch.
Anyone here got good room lobang around Central/East side? Or any fellow Malaysian also kena this kind of power landlord before? Tolong share your tips or comments below before I really lose my mind sia. ðŸ˜
#SingaporeRenting #MalaysianInSG #LandlordDrama #RentHike #SinglishRant #SGProperty #LifeInSG