Renting a home in Singapore – how co-living works

Renting a home in Singapore can be expensive, complicated and time consuming. Opting for co-living makes it much simpler and you don’t have to spend the big bucks. Just as co-working gained traction over a decade ago, co-living is now becoming increasingly popular for those looking to rent a room or private apartment with lots of added perks and without the hassle associated with traditional rentals. Renting a space with a co-living company means you get a stylishly furnished home, often with plenty of shared facilities, for a reasonable price – even ready-made friends!

Cove, a co-living company operating since 2018, helps make renting a home in Singapore simpler, affordable and fun. CMO and co-founder SOPHIE JOKELSON gives us 10 reasons why co-living with Cove is a good option.

#1 Renting a home in Singapore made easy

Unlike traditional rentals, everything is set up and move-in ready with Cove. So there’s no need to go through the hassle of buying and setting up furniture, paying the hefty deposit on utilities (up to $800 for non-Singaporeans and PR), researching the best Wi-Fi provider or finding a reliable cleaner. Plus, our tenant app provides easy access to tenancy information, how to book facilities, raise maintenance tickets, view member perks and connect with the wider Cove community.

#2 Wide variety of rental types

Co-living is not just for young, single working professionals and students. As well as room rentals, we let out entire homes including private two-bedroom, one-bedroom and studio apartments which are perfect for couples, young families with children or those seeking more space. We have just launched new homes in the Lumiere condo in Tanjong Pagar that offer just such apartments. 

#3 Seamless booking process

The entire booking process is digital and super speedy. You search for a suitable home, make a physical or virtual viewing (or you can view their life-like VR tours), and book and sign your tenancy agreement. The whole experience is made to be simple and fast so you can get on with living.

#4 No hefty deposit or agent’s fees

When you choose a Cove property, only one month’s deposit is required. The amount is equivalent to the monthly rental price and there are no agent’s fees to pay.

#5 Range of rental prices

A room in Orchard starts from $1,400 for a common room and from $1,700 for an ensuite room. In Joo Chiat, rooms start from as low as $1,200 for a common room, $1,600 for an ensuite room and $2,150 for a studio apartment.

#6 Flexible leases and hassle-free

Our co-living spaces really suit expats and locals who are looking at renting a home in Singapore and need a flexible and hassle-free place to stay. Cove offers a minimum of three-month fixed leases (a local URA regulation) and only a 30-day notice when you need to move out. We also offer preferential rates to Coveys who stay with us for longer.

We can rent out private units such as studio apartments alongside regular co-living homes. Some of the individuals and expat couples who stay with us may have just relocated to Singapore for the first time; the last thing they want is to do is get locked in to a traditional 12-month or 24-month contract plus deal with the challenges of navigating a new and unfamiliar system.

It’s definitely possible to rent a full apartment with us. We’ve housed colleagues, students and even siblings who want to live together in the same building or apartment. The best part is that we still manage all the administrative work and billing for each individual.

#7 Fully-furnished renting

Homes come with stylish, Instagram-able furnishings and are equipped with kitchenware. All bedrooms come with a bed frame, plush mattress, wardrobe, side table and bedside lamp. Some larger rooms now come with a work-from-home-friendly setup with desks included. Common spaces are equipped with comfy sofas, coffee tables, large televisions with Chromecast, dining tables and chairs, and fully equipped kitchen to whip out meals. Renting a home in Singapore couldn’t be easier.

All our homes come with a modern minimalist interior with cosy furnishings that make the bedrooms and common areas feel more homey. Our in-house interior designer Gabby hand-picks and arranges all furniture and décor in each new property to maximise comfort and aesthetic.

#8 Social perks

We conduct virtual and physical events to bring “Coveys” together so they can meet like-minded people and make new friends! All Coveys also enjoy exclusive benefits with our partners such as Foodpanda, Grain, Classpass, Hipvan, Prepped, Found8 and many more.

We’ve had barbecues, Christmas drinks, pool parties, fitness classes and virtual workshops. Given COVID-19 and the local restrictions, we’re mindful that large events aren’t possible yet but we still plan to run some physical activities in small groups within the current regulations, so our tenants get to meet other Coveys within our community.

#9 Co-living compatibility

For those living in shared flats, we offer a flatmate compatibility survey developed by a team of renowned data scientists and psychologists. The report helps to break the ice by providing a short introduction of each flatmate. It highlights what they have in common and areas of differences, and includes plenty of tips and advice on how to make the most of their co-living experience together!

#10 Dedicated maintenance

We offer a dedicated maintenance team with round-the-clock support; this in-house team will schedule repairs, AC servicing and provides advice on minor fixes. We provide daily chat support to help out tenants and arrange a suitable time for maintenance work.

Find out more about Cove’s range of available properties here.

If you’re struggling to decide on where to rent a home in Singapore check out our handy article for lots of insider tips.

Amy Brook-Partridge

Amy has two kids, one dog and one husband - although she'd love to have more than one (dog, that is). She's mad about F45 training, running and playing Gaelic football, when she isn't injured or drinking a little too much wine.