Newsletter #1 - September 2026

The Month Most Renters Overlook

Welcome to the first issue of the Singapore Rental Brief. Whether you are still abroad exploring the market, in the middle of moving, or already settled here, thank you for being part of it.

Once a month I will send something useful: practical guidance for moving to Singapore, and a look at how the culture here shapes the way people live.

Let me start with the month we are in.

That's the September issue.

Next month: what actually makes a neighbourhood livable in Singapore, and what to check before you sign.

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Thinking about your own search? Tell me which areas you've got your eye on and when you're hoping to move, and I'll give you my honest take on what's worth chasing and what I'd steer clear of.

Can Speak Singlish or Not?

Moving to Singapore exposes you to the wonderful world of Singlish. At first, the brevity of the language and the grammar can be a bit hard to understand but soon enough you’ll find it slipping into your own conversations.

This month, I’d like to introduce you to the word “chope,” which means to reserve or claim a seat, table or other space. For example, “Can you chope this seat for me?”

Most commonly, you will see people chope a seat by placing their pack of tissue paper on a table such as at a hawker centre. In Singapore, this is a widely respected practice and everyone understands what it means.

So next time you are out at a hawker centre and spot a lone packet of tissues sitting on an empty table, don't take the seat - it's already choped!"

Why September Is Different

The August school start rush has ended. Most families look to be to be settled before term begins, which packs an enormous amount of moving into July and August. But for other families, September provides an opportunity. Perhaps you have moved to Singapore and are staying in short-term accommodation while you get your bearings. Perhaps your relocation date simply falls outside the school calendar. Either way, the market you are looking at right now is a very different one from the market in July, and that difference works in your favour.

What That Changes

Less pressure at viewings. Landlords are not fielding five other parties on the same afternoon, so you have time to view longer and consider your options more fully. You can walk a unit twice, ask all the questions you care about, and sleep on a decision instead of feeling rushed into one.

More realistic conversations on rent and terms. Not a discount - landlords in Singapore rarely think in those terms - but a negotiation rather than a race. When there is no one else standing behind you at the door, terms become a conversation rather than an ultimatum.

What Is Actually Available

Just because the rush cleared the obvious units first, that doesn’t mean good units aren’t available. Sure, some units have sat because they were overpriced or poorly presented - a listing photo taken in bad lighting can cost a landlord weeks. That usually makes them easier to negotiate with come September, because time on market is the one thing every landlord quietly worries about. What's more, new units hit the market every month in Singapore, whether or not they follow the school calendar's rhythm. The pool is refreshing constantly, even when it looks quiet on the surface.

Bottom line, if you are worried that you missed out on August, don’t be. And if you are planning your move for next year, know that you don’t need to rush. Sometimes, it pays to wait.