Purchasing a Landed Property in Singapore: What You Need to Know
By
Amanda Goh
|Published 17 May 2021 3 minutes
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At a glance...
While Singaporeans typically go for HDBs and condos, there are also plenty of landed property options out there to choose from. Of course, many factors need to be considered, including the cost of purchasing one. However, if you do have enough assets and cashflow to buy a landed home, here are some things to take not of when planning on purchasing a landed property in Singapore.
Regardless of whether you own multiple properties or if this is your first, it is important that you take time to do adequate research before buying a property. As the process of purchasing a landed property is different from purchasing other sorts of property in Singapore, here are some things you should take note of!
You Will Need to be a Singapore Citizen or PR to Purchases a Landed Property
Expats are not allowed to purchase any form of landed property in Singapore, including bungalows, terrace houses, semi-detached houses, and cluster housing.
While Permanent Residents (PR) can apply for a landed property, if they have been a PR for at least 5 years. That being said, there are multiple factors that may affect the application including economic contributions. Thus, applications by PRs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
There is a Fixed Number of Levels a Property Can Have
As each landed property is allowed a certain number of floors, you will not be able to build your property as high as you want. This means you will not be able to build 3 floors on a property that only allows 2 floors.
Hire a Professional Inspector Before Purchasing
Before purchasing a property, there are some checks which should be done to assess the property. With landed property, you may need more expertise, thus getting a professional inspector to view your house would be ideal.
Some areas which should be inspected include:
1. Foundation
Having to resolve the foundation of your property can be expensive and timely. When considering a property, make sure its foundation is strong and sturdy, else be prepared to spend thousands of dollars fixing these problems.
Looking out for cracks, unaligned walls and doors can help you gauge if the property is on a strong foundation.
2. Moisture
Similar to a weak foundation, moisture problems can be costly to fix. If a property you are looking at has a basement, be sure to take a look at it and see if you spot any leaks or mould.
3. Soil
Purchase a property in an area with compact soil that is not prone to movement. This is as if your property is on an area with soft soil, you may need to install sheet piling. This will provide earth retention and extra support.
4. Roofing
When considering a property, ensure that it does not have a leaky roof. If it does, you should ensure that the owner fixes it before you make a purchase. As fixing a roof is expensive, you would not want to have to do it yourself when purchasing the property.
Considerations
Buying a landed property in Singapore takes time. You will need to do adequate research to ensure that the property is good to go. Getting a professional inspector to take a look at the property before purchase is ideal.
