The private rental market has made a bit of a turnaround last month, posting a 1.3 per cent rise after months of lacklustre demand and declining prices.
In the prime districts, rents have rise 0.9 per cent, while the most obvious change was in the city fringes where prices rose 1.6 per cent. In the suburbs, a 1.3 per cent price increase was recorded. Rental volume also rose by 5.8 per cent in January with 3,813 units leased. That is 0.7 per cent higher than the 3,785 units leased in January 2016.
With the year leaning on this positive note, could the private residential leasing market be climbing its way out of the gloom? While property analysts are not expecting any drastic or quick decline in prices, neither are they predicting a recovery in the near future. As more new completions from 2015 and 2016 hit the market, the increase in available leasing options will make it more a tenant’s market. What are more popular are shorter leases, and the authorities may even begin to reconsider making shorter leases legal as more tenants are leaning towards these preferences. Previously 2-year tenures were common, but of late, 1-year leases are now becoming the new norm.
For HDB flats, rents have been falling almost entirely across the board with the 5-room flat segment leading the way with a 1.5 per cent decline. 3-room flat rental prices have however risen by 0.2 per cent. Rental volume for HDB flats have also fallen 16.1 per cent last month.
