My friend is struggling with a horrible landlord.
Back story: friend found a job in a different country and is moving out of Singapore. He conveyed his wish to landlord to terminate the rental agreement at the end of 4 months. He said he will then serve 2 months notice and then leave.
While negotiating his rental contract, he had a diplomatic clause put in which says….
“… shall be transferred, assign, posted or relocated out of the Republic of Singapore permanently by his organisation or cease to be employed and required to leave the Republic of Singapore then and in such a case, it shall be lawful for the Tenant to determine this tenancy by giving not less than 2 months’ advance notice. The tenant are required to find a new family profile tenant if the lease is less than 6th month or nis tenancy. Documentary evidence of such transfer or cessation shall be required and such notice shall be deemed to have commenced on such date as the Landlord shall have actually received such evidence and refund the deposit.”
But even after the 6 months (4 months + 2 months notice), the landlord first asked him to find an EXACT same family profile to transfer the lease. Friend showed him a PR couple (got rejected saying they don’t have kid), a live in couple (got rejected saying they are not married) and a family with 2 kids (got rejected saying they have 2 kids and not 1 like my friend has)…. So basically the landlord wants an exact same family profile like my friend’s…
Now, after my friend could not get a replacement tenant, landlord goes over and finds a new tenant, but now says he will still not return the deposit because my friend did not get him a replacement tenant. Threatened him to quietly buzz off or apparently he will take my friend to court.
Wanted to understand is there something that can be done about such cheapskate landlords? He is well aware my friend won’t file charges coz he has to leave the country.