Latest news with #rental
Independent Singapore
18 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Are landlords the cause of our downfall?
Opinion Singapore News In the Hood SINGAPORE: On the popular Singaporean subreddit r/asksingapore, a user recently posed a question with deep undercurrents: 'Are landlords the cause of our downfall?' The rationale The user reported passing by a coffee shop where five stalls were permanently closed, including a zi char stall – a sight the user had never witnessed before. When asked, the aunties at the drinks stall explained the stalls were closed because of prohibitive rental prices. This prompted the user to pose a tough but necessary question: 'Isn't rental prices determined by landlords? Can't they make it affordable so tenants can continue selling?' This question gained further weight given the multiple other shops that remained vacant. One user commented, 'Landlords will only reduce the rental when they feel the pain of not being able to rent the place out; otherwise, they will just keep squeezing, simple economics.' The rent crisis Commercial rental costs in Singapore have been rising, with some even spiralling out of control. According to Terence Yow, managing director of Enviably Me Group of Companies, a healthy rent-to-sales ratio is around 15% – but in recent times, this has surged to an 'unhealthy' 50%. What does he propose instead? On a CNA podcast, Yow suggested that landlords get their 'skin in the game,' pegging the rental as a ratio of total sales/profit instead of charging a fixed amount. He reasoned that such an agreement would create a greater incentive for the landlord to develop and attract customers to the business, ensuring its potential success. This approach would make the landlord a stakeholder while also enabling them to earn greater yields from their rent if the business grows. This phenomenon is called turnover rent. It essentially shares risk and reward more evenly between landlord and tenant: when the tenant produces higher turnover, the landlord receives a higher rent; in leaner times, such as during a period of low economic activity, the tenant is required to pay less as they earn less. What about implementation? Critics of the agreement, however, argue that turnover rent adds further complexity to the lease and requires more negotiation and drafting than a standard fixed rental lease. There's also the potential for losses, especially if the landlord is not able to make mortgage payments from the rent obtained. Furthermore, the formalities required to keep a check on business turnover necessitate more administrative effort, with audits sometimes proving quite costly. All in all, as young Singaporeans enter a rental market that favours those with capital instead of ingenuity, many may be turned away from taking the leap of faith and realising their entrepreneurial dreams. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
I was deeply shocked by my tenant's bizarre act after she moved out - yet she's calling ME dramatic
A landlord was gobsmacked after discovering his tenant had taken his big-ticket items when she moved out - despite them being part of the furnished rental. Renter Katie was living in the apartment, which included essential appliances such as a fridge, washing machine and dishwasher. But when she moved out, she took the bulky gadgets, worth more than $2,000, with her, mistakenly believing they were hers to keep - leaving the landlord baffled, as they were his property. 'Hi, just wanted to say I've left the keys on the counter. Thanks for everything,' Katie said in her goodbye text message to the landlord. Baffled, he replied: 'Hi Katie. Just been to the property. Where is the fridge?' Appearing unfazed, she casually replied: 'Oh, I took it. Same with the washer and the dishwasher.' Taken aback by her response, the landlord said: 'Sorry? Those weren't yours to take. They were part of the tenancy.' Katie tried to justify taking the appliances, saying: 'Yeah but I used them every day. I assumed they were mine?' A landlord was gobsmacked after discovering his tenant had taken his big-ticket items when she moved out - despite them being part of the furnished rental As the products came with the rental property, he explained: 'They're listed on the inventory. You signed it. Can you return them please?' 'That's a bit awkward now. They're already in my new place,' Katie replied. He demanded she bring the gadgets back because 'they don't belong to you'. 'I genuinely thought they did. Like, I used them. They felt like mine,' Katie insisted. Furious with her response, he replied: 'Katie. You've taken items worth over a grand. This isn't a grey area.' Trying to find a way out of the situation, she suggested: 'Can't you just claim it on insurance or something? I'm not trying to cause drama.' However, the landlord gave her an ultimatum as he accused her of stealing. 'If I don't have them back by Friday, I'll have to treat it as theft. This is serious,' he said. Katie ended the conversation with: 'Wow. Over a few appliances? Bit extreme, don't you think?' It's unclear what happened between Katie and the landlord - but British property strategist Jack Rooke re-shared the pair's text exchange. 'She took over £1,000 ($A2040) worth of appliances… Then told the landlord he was being dramatic. And people still say landlords are the bad guys,' Jack said. 'That's a bit extreme. She's just robbed him.' His video has been viewed more than 770,000 times, with many divided over the situation. 'She's been paying the guy's mortgage for years, the least he can do is let her have a few white goods,' one suggested. 'To be fair, she's used them. Every day the new tenants won't want secondhand appliances - she's saved the landlord a job by removing them,' another shared. 'Dammit Katie you're making me agree with a landlord here,' one said. 'I never rent anything out furnished, literally they steal something every time. Over 10 years there was nothing left - no sofa, fridge, dryer, bed, table and chairs. Every single item stolen,' a tenant revealed. 'My last tenant left with my fridge. Exactly the same conversation,' one added.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rise of ‘accidental landlords' having serious impact on America's housing supply — what owners and renters need to know
As mortgage rates remain stubbornly high and home affordability out of reach for many buyers, a new type of rental competition is emerging in some of the country's hottest housing markets. 'Worsening for-sale supply-demand conditions are creating new institutional competitors: accidental landlords,' notes a recent report by Parcl Labs. These 'accidental landlords' are homeowners who tried to sell but couldn't fetch the price they wanted — and instead have decided to rent out their homes until conditions improve. "When these home sellers cannot find buyers, they face three choices: delist and wait, cut price to find market clearing level, or convert to rental. The last option creates what Parcl Labs terms 'accidental landlords': owners who enter the single-family rental market not by design but by necessity," the Parcl Labs researchers wrote. It's a growing trend that may be quietly disrupting the single-family rental market and putting pressure on big institutional landlords like Invitation Homes, American Homes 4 Rent and Progress Residential. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Where it's happening The phenomenon is most concentrated in the same metros where institutional landlords have historically built up large portfolios: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Tampa and Charlotte. According to Parcl Labs, those six cities represent 36.8% of all institutional single-family rental holdings nationwide. But these same cities are now seeing home listings pile up, leading to a surge in homeowners pulling their listings and turning them into rentals instead. Houston and Dallas saw the biggest increases in homes that failed to sell and were converted into rentals, followed by Tampa, Phoenix and Atlanta. Charlotte, an outlier, actually had a modest decline in the number of homes that failed to sell. Meanwhile, single-family inventory is up sharply too year-over-year, averaging a 32% increase in those key cities. This trend is part of a broader reshuffling of the U.S. housing market, where fewer people are able or willing to sell due to high mortgage rates. Many owners who bought or refinanced during the pandemic at sub-4% interest rates are reluctant to sell and take on a new loan at 7% or more. That so-called "lock-in effect" is forcing a growing number of people to become landlords by default. Investors large and small now make up about 20% of all single-family home purchases across the country, the Associated Press recently reported. That's what is creating these unusual competition dynamics between households and institutional investors alike. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Why this matters for renters (and investors) Accidental landlords can be a disruptive force precisely because they tend to have different priorities than professional investors. "Unlike institutional operators who use sophisticated rent optimization strategies, accidental landlords typically price units simply to cover costs," the Parcl report explains. "This dynamic creates downward pressure on rents exactly where institutional investors have concentrated their portfolios." In other words: Mom-and-pop owners are competing for tenants in the same neighborhoods as investors and corporate landlords, and in many cases, undercutting them. In the short-term, this means many renters may see cheaper rent and lower yearly rental price hikes. On the flip side for investors, this means profit margins in these geos may not see major upside in the short-term. This shift could further strain profitability for big players in the single-family rental space, especially since many of them have become net sellers over the past year. According to Parcl, 76.7% of institutional net selling happened in just the six metros above, with Atlanta and Dallas topping the list. With prices expected to remain flat or decline over the next year, institutional investors appear to be building up cash in anticipation of picking up some acquisition targets. As time passes, these accidental landlords could become highly incentivized to sell off to institutions or other mom-and-pop real-estate investors looking for a good deal. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Accredited investors can now buy into this $22 trillion asset class once reserved for elites – and become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger without lifting a finger. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rise of ‘accidental landlords' having serious impact on America's housing supply — what owners and renters need to know
As mortgage rates remain stubbornly high and home affordability out of reach for many buyers, a new type of rental competition is emerging in some of the country's hottest housing markets. 'Worsening for-sale supply-demand conditions are creating new institutional competitors: accidental landlords,' notes a recent report by Parcl Labs. These 'accidental landlords' are homeowners who tried to sell but couldn't fetch the price they wanted — and instead have decided to rent out their homes until conditions improve. "When these home sellers cannot find buyers, they face three choices: delist and wait, cut price to find market clearing level, or convert to rental. The last option creates what Parcl Labs terms 'accidental landlords': owners who enter the single-family rental market not by design but by necessity," the Parcl Labs researchers wrote. It's a growing trend that may be quietly disrupting the single-family rental market and putting pressure on big institutional landlords like Invitation Homes, American Homes 4 Rent and Progress Residential. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Where it's happening The phenomenon is most concentrated in the same metros where institutional landlords have historically built up large portfolios: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Tampa and Charlotte. According to Parcl Labs, those six cities represent 36.8% of all institutional single-family rental holdings nationwide. But these same cities are now seeing home listings pile up, leading to a surge in homeowners pulling their listings and turning them into rentals instead. Houston and Dallas saw the biggest increases in homes that failed to sell and were converted into rentals, followed by Tampa, Phoenix and Atlanta. Charlotte, an outlier, actually had a modest decline in the number of homes that failed to sell. Meanwhile, single-family inventory is up sharply too year-over-year, averaging a 32% increase in those key cities. This trend is part of a broader reshuffling of the U.S. housing market, where fewer people are able or willing to sell due to high mortgage rates. Many owners who bought or refinanced during the pandemic at sub-4% interest rates are reluctant to sell and take on a new loan at 7% or more. That so-called "lock-in effect" is forcing a growing number of people to become landlords by default. Investors large and small now make up about 20% of all single-family home purchases across the country, the Associated Press recently reported. That's what is creating these unusual competition dynamics between households and institutional investors alike. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Why this matters for renters (and investors) Accidental landlords can be a disruptive force precisely because they tend to have different priorities than professional investors. "Unlike institutional operators who use sophisticated rent optimization strategies, accidental landlords typically price units simply to cover costs," the Parcl report explains. "This dynamic creates downward pressure on rents exactly where institutional investors have concentrated their portfolios." In other words: Mom-and-pop owners are competing for tenants in the same neighborhoods as investors and corporate landlords, and in many cases, undercutting them. In the short-term, this means many renters may see cheaper rent and lower yearly rental price hikes. On the flip side for investors, this means profit margins in these geos may not see major upside in the short-term. This shift could further strain profitability for big players in the single-family rental space, especially since many of them have become net sellers over the past year. According to Parcl, 76.7% of institutional net selling happened in just the six metros above, with Atlanta and Dallas topping the list. With prices expected to remain flat or decline over the next year, institutional investors appear to be building up cash in anticipation of picking up some acquisition targets. As time passes, these accidental landlords could become highly incentivized to sell off to institutions or other mom-and-pop real-estate investors looking for a good deal. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Accredited investors can now buy into this $22 trillion asset class once reserved for elites – and become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger without lifting a finger. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Eyewatering price demanded for this dilapidated rental property perfectly sums up the grim state of Australia's housing crisis: 'It's a disgrace!'
A dilapidated rental listing in Sydney 's inner west has sparked outrage, with critics calling it misleading and emblematic of Australia's worsening housing crisis. The two-bedroom apartment in Burwood, about 10km from Sydney's CBD, was listed at an eyewatering $550 per week, despite its rundown state. The property has just one bathroom, no parking, and according to photos previously published on a kitchen with exposed pipes, peeling walls and missing drawers. Although the listing has since been removed from that site, it remains live on Raine & Horne's website, where only an exterior shot of the home is shown. The listing previously claimed the property features a 'good condition kitchen & bathroom.' The misleading description has drawn criticism from renters and housing advocates amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. 'It's completely outrageous that young people are being forced to pay $550 a week for properties that are literally falling apart,' Angus Fisher, the President of the University of Sydney's Student Representative Council, told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's a disgrace! 'Students and young renters are being priced out, pushed into dangerous conditions, and treated like the leftovers in the rental market.' Mr Fisher added that renters deserve better than being offered substandard homes. 'We're seeing the consequences of a broken system where the profit making of real estate firms can occur without any human dignity,' he said. 'The government needs to step in with real rent controls, stronger tenancy protections, and a commitment to building safe affordable housing. Right now, renters are being served a derelict deal.' The rental was previous listed for $495 per week in 2024, rising by around 11 per cent in a single year. In 2020, laws were introduced in New South Wales to make it clear that rental properties had to meet specific minimum standards to be considered fit to live in. These included being structurally sound, having adequate lighting and ventilation, proper plumbing and drainage, and access to electricity or gas with a sufficient number of sockets. Properties were also required to have hot and cold running water and private bathroom facilities. Breaching these requirements could result in fines of up to $11,000 for individuals and $71,500 for agencies. Further reforms were rolled out from 31 October 2024 and 19 May 2025, including limiting rent increases to once per year across all leases, including those signed before the reforms. Tenants could no longer be charged for application costs such as background checks or lease preparation. Landlords were required to provide a valid reason to end a tenancy, even at the conclusion of a fixed term, and, in some cases, had to supply supporting documentation. New restrictions on re-letting and extended notice periods were introduced, giving tenants more time to secure alternative housing. Pet laws were also updated, landlords could only refuse a pet for limited reasons and were required to respond to pet requests within 21 days, or approval would be granted automatically.
