Hi Bros
This is an earnest appeal for your help. Please do not flame or insult or make sarcastic remarks, I beg you. I am seriously desperate and need help.
- Around 1 month ago, I rented my condo to a FT from HK (but he has an American passport). He claimed that he is employed 'in the financial industry' but later we found that he never goes to work. Meaning that he is probably unemployed. He was unreasonable from day 1, stating that the apartment had many defects and requesting wholesale structural changes. I told him that if he was not happy, he can just choose not to rent the place. He then backtracked and said he would take the place "as is" but requested for a cheaper rent in exchange. I agreed, just wanting to get this matter over with.
- I let him take the keys on March 10 as I am a nice guy. However he refused to sign the contract until March 15, citing some technicalities that he wanted re-worded. He requested that the contract be postdated to Mar 15, meaning he already got 5 days free stay. Unable to do anything, and not wanting to kick up a big fuss, I agreed.
- A week ago, he informed me that he would from now on no longer be paying me rent. For the following reasons:
(a) The construction noise from the neighbouring construction is very noisy and thus makes the place 'untenantable' (totally ridiculous)
(b) He could only access wi-fi from the living room and not his room (again, not my prob)
(c) The washing machine was spoilt (but it was not spoilt when he moved in and he had already exhausted the two week period where he could highlight problems for me to fix, I have witnesses)
(d) There was a horrible smell of cooking gas coming from the gas stove (again, was not there when he moved in, I have witnesses)
(e) There was a horrible smell of sewage and urine coming from the toilet (again, was not there when I moved in, I have witnesses)
- He claimed that he would not pay me rent until "all the faults are rectified" which is ridiculous cos there is no way I can stop the construction
- He then said he wanted to terminate the agreement and proposed that I refund him his last month's rent, deposit and let him have 2 more weeks to move out (effectively letting him have 2 months free stay!!)
- I responded by saying that since he clearly communicated his unwillingness to pay rent and cooperate with me, the TA was henceforth terminated due to his breach. I forfeited his deposit and informed him that he has to move out or face police/legal action. I am now the legal occupant of the property, not him, and hence he is trespassing on my property. He did not respond.
- I called police down to confront him after a few days. Police ordered him to move out by today (16/4) and also informed him that I have the right to change the lock on 16/4 if he refused to move out.
- I also terminated the SP Services account (no electricity no water) and the internet service which are all held in my name, since he didn't pay me for them, in the hope that it would force him to move out.
- He did not move out by today and when I sent people down to change the lock, HE reported police and said he was the legal occupant and we cannot anyhow change the lock cos it constitutes illegal confinement. He also screamed and yelled and acted aggressive, physically resisting against our attempt to change the lock. Police said it's a civil matter and backtracked on their original stand. Their new stand is we can only change the lock IF HE IS NOT PRESENT INSIDE. If I change the lock when at least 1 person is inside, then it's illegal confinement. There are 3 people living in there, him, his wife and his 18 month baby. He is a totally unreasonable CB and cannot be reasoned with. He thinks that he deserves a refund and 2 weeks free stay.
- Police said that I can either wait for him to leave and change the lock when he is not at home, or apply for court order to evict him (which will take at least one month, plus more time and resources). I would then have to sue him for damages, which he 100% won't pay because he is not even a legal Singapore resident and has no job or assets here, so there is nothing I can claim against and no way I can enforce the debt.
- Can someone please advise me on what I can do? Perhaps someone with police knowledge (Ram?) can give some useful advice?
Singapore Police seems to be always siding with the FTs even when it is clear cut that I am the wronged party!!
HELP!! I am really desperate as I have to put up with a squatter in my house and yet I have to pay the mortgage on this house for a few more months! This moron refuses to pay rent and I have to incur huge loss cos I can't evict him and can't rent it out to anyone else while in the meantime paying mortgage!
This is an earnest appeal for your help. Please do not flame or insult or make sarcastic remarks, I beg you. I am seriously desperate and need help.
- Around 1 month ago, I rented my condo to a FT from HK (but he has an American passport). He claimed that he is employed 'in the financial industry' but later we found that he never goes to work. Meaning that he is probably unemployed. He was unreasonable from day 1, stating that the apartment had many defects and requesting wholesale structural changes. I told him that if he was not happy, he can just choose not to rent the place. He then backtracked and said he would take the place "as is" but requested for a cheaper rent in exchange. I agreed, just wanting to get this matter over with.
- I let him take the keys on March 10 as I am a nice guy. However he refused to sign the contract until March 15, citing some technicalities that he wanted re-worded. He requested that the contract be postdated to Mar 15, meaning he already got 5 days free stay. Unable to do anything, and not wanting to kick up a big fuss, I agreed.
- A week ago, he informed me that he would from now on no longer be paying me rent. For the following reasons:
(a) The construction noise from the neighbouring construction is very noisy and thus makes the place 'untenantable' (totally ridiculous)
(b) He could only access wi-fi from the living room and not his room (again, not my prob)
(c) The washing machine was spoilt (but it was not spoilt when he moved in and he had already exhausted the two week period where he could highlight problems for me to fix, I have witnesses)
(d) There was a horrible smell of cooking gas coming from the gas stove (again, was not there when he moved in, I have witnesses)
(e) There was a horrible smell of sewage and urine coming from the toilet (again, was not there when I moved in, I have witnesses)
- He claimed that he would not pay me rent until "all the faults are rectified" which is ridiculous cos there is no way I can stop the construction
- He then said he wanted to terminate the agreement and proposed that I refund him his last month's rent, deposit and let him have 2 more weeks to move out (effectively letting him have 2 months free stay!!)
- I responded by saying that since he clearly communicated his unwillingness to pay rent and cooperate with me, the TA was henceforth terminated due to his breach. I forfeited his deposit and informed him that he has to move out or face police/legal action. I am now the legal occupant of the property, not him, and hence he is trespassing on my property. He did not respond.
- I called police down to confront him after a few days. Police ordered him to move out by today (16/4) and also informed him that I have the right to change the lock on 16/4 if he refused to move out.
- I also terminated the SP Services account (no electricity no water) and the internet service which are all held in my name, since he didn't pay me for them, in the hope that it would force him to move out.
- He did not move out by today and when I sent people down to change the lock, HE reported police and said he was the legal occupant and we cannot anyhow change the lock cos it constitutes illegal confinement. He also screamed and yelled and acted aggressive, physically resisting against our attempt to change the lock. Police said it's a civil matter and backtracked on their original stand. Their new stand is we can only change the lock IF HE IS NOT PRESENT INSIDE. If I change the lock when at least 1 person is inside, then it's illegal confinement. There are 3 people living in there, him, his wife and his 18 month baby. He is a totally unreasonable CB and cannot be reasoned with. He thinks that he deserves a refund and 2 weeks free stay.
- Police said that I can either wait for him to leave and change the lock when he is not at home, or apply for court order to evict him (which will take at least one month, plus more time and resources). I would then have to sue him for damages, which he 100% won't pay because he is not even a legal Singapore resident and has no job or assets here, so there is nothing I can claim against and no way I can enforce the debt.
- Can someone please advise me on what I can do? Perhaps someone with police knowledge (Ram?) can give some useful advice?
Singapore Police seems to be always siding with the FTs even when it is clear cut that I am the wronged party!!
HELP!! I am really desperate as I have to put up with a squatter in my house and yet I have to pay the mortgage on this house for a few more months! This moron refuses to pay rent and I have to incur huge loss cos I can't evict him and can't rent it out to anyone else while in the meantime paying mortgage!