Even if you’re not a property renter, you’re likely familiar with basic tenancy principles.
These include making timely rent payments, avoiding damage to the property, and providing necessary legal documents such as employment passes and visas if you’re renting in a foreign country.
However, not everyone will adhere to these basic rules and courtesies as a tenant.
A recent case involving a landlord named Wang exemplifies this.
She rented out her four-bedroom condominium unit in Ang Mo Kio to a Spanish expatriate family of three.
The contract was signed in August last year, with the family moving in the following month, September 2023.
Spanish Family Disappeared Less Than Four Months After Moving Into Condo Unit
After renting her apartment to the Spanish family, Wang, a 47-year-old music teacher, received news from a neighbour that the tenants had been absent from the unit for an extended period.
Concerned by this information, she decided to inspect the property herself.
During her visit to the condo unit, Wang was taken aback by the shocking state of the place.
According to Shin Min Daily News, she discovered the apartment in complete disarray, with various parts of the property damaged.
The family had abruptly vacated the apartment less than four months after their initial move-in.
They left behind leftover food and a pile of garbage on the kitchen stove and sink.
Condo Unit Left in Complete Disarray, Washbasin Was Severely Damaged
Furthermore, Wang discovered large patches of mould growing on the sofa and the floor and bed in one of the rooms strewn with glitter particles.
What puzzled her even more was the giant hole that had been smashed through the washbasin, which was shocking as the unit had been in excellent condition before it was leased to the family.
Spanish Man’s Employment Pass Had Expired in Sep 2023, A Month Before They Moved In
Speaking to Shin Min, Wang said that she initially felt reassured about renting the property to the family because the tenant was employed by a reputable multinational company.
His wife also worked as a Spanish teacher at an international school, and their young daughter was enrolled in a local school.
Given their stable jobs and valid employment passes until 2025, Wang agreed to a two-year lease at a monthly rent of $3,900.
The entire process was facilitated by a property agent named Ma.
However, issues reportedly began to surface soon after the tenant signed the contract.
Wang mentioned that the man began approaching the previous tenants, still residing in the apartment, urging them to vacate promptly.
He even requested a new fridge, which Wang accommodated as per their request. Wang considered cancelling the lease due to this behaviour but attributed it to possible cultural differences.
Ma, 57, stated that she had thoroughly verified all documents, including employment passes, before finalising the lease.
However, after being contacted by Wang about the suspicious behaviour of the tenant, Ma discovered that the tenant’s work pass had expired in September 2023, less than a month before the family moved in.
The family was required to leave the country the following month.
3 Months of Rent Unpaid
Despite hearing from her neighbour that the tenant had been absent from the apartment for some time, Wang thought that the tenant might have travelled back to Europe for the year-end holidays.
However, as doubts crept in, she decided to check her rental account.
To her dismay, she discovered that the tenant had failed to pay rent for three consecutive months.
She promptly contacted the property agency to engage with the tenant and address the issue.
Ma mentioned that she attempted to establish contact with the tenant by sending multiple WhatsApp messages to his Spanish number, but they all went unanswered.
A few nights ago, Ma received a missed call from the tenant while asleep.
Unfortunately, subsequent efforts to reach him have proven unsuccessful.
Wang told Shin Min that this incident was the first of its kind she encountered in her seven or eight years of property leasing, and she intends to file a police report.
She said that while the chances of her recovering the rent owed from the tenant are slim, she hopes that her experience can serve as a cautionary tale for other landlords.