Comments on: A Ridiculous S$1,000 Claim Against My Friend By Her Ex-Landlady

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:30:13 +0000

Maximillion – Hey there. In the end, the case was thrown out of the court because it is just too ridiculous. My friend’s landlady was given another chance to file in another claim but I guess everything seems to have resolved on its own!

Will keep a look out for you! If I come across anyone who is interested, I shall send you an email.

Best of luck!

By: Maximillion

Maximillion — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:09:11 +0000

Dear Wilfred,

I incidentally tumbled upon your page (whilst trying to rent out my master bedroom condo at The Woodgrove $1000. Pls reccommend if any).

Anyway, the best approach is not to attend the small claims at all. The consequence: your friend may be charged. But, i doubt it.

Secondly, your friend did all right things in handling the termination.

Thirdly, proof of utilities can be easily settled. Call PUB. or a friend in PUB.

Fourthly, dont sweat or waste time over assholes. Cut ties with the ex-landlord NOW-completely clean cut! She is determined to make hell.

Good luck!

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:02:10 +0000

Solange – Hi, to verify if the letter of termination is good enough, you will need to refer to the original tenant contact under the section of what the tenant (i.e. you) may be liable of. Since you have mentioned “Landlady has inspected the 2 rooms rented as indicated in the attached rental agreement and are satisfied with the condition”, it appears that you are well covered unless there are some special points mentioned in your contract. As Lora’s comment stated, “The important thing is that the contract was terminated with all proper procedures stated in the contract observed.” Best of luck!

By: Solange

Solange — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:20:18 +0000

Hi guys,

Just need a quick check of the below documentation is sufficient?

Termination of Room Rental.

This is to verify that all parties involved have agreed that the tenants, ___________________, __________________ & __________________ have returned;

1) 3 pairs of keys (Landlady) on ________________. Each pair of keys is to contain the key for the padlock for the main gate and the key to the main door. ( )

2) Total deposit given is SGD1,200.00 being 1 months deposit. SGD_________ has been returned to the tenants and the remaining SGD ________ will be held by the landlady to clear any anticipated PUB charges. After which, the balance from the said amount will be returned to the tenants. Landlady is to procure the relevant PUB bill to either one of the tenants to verify the outstanding amount. ( )

3) Fixed phone line connection and internet which is under the name of ____________________ (tenant) has been cancelled. ( )

4) Electricity meter charted is ______________; water meter charted is _______________. Meter charted on ________________

Landlady has inspected the 2 rooms rented as indicated in the attached rental agreement and are satisfied with the condition. The tenants will be absolved from any future claims. Prior notice of the rental termination has been informed to the landlady on the 3rd week of January 2008. Tenancy agreement will end on the 10th of March as advance 1 month rental has been paid to the landlady for the rent dated 11th Feb 2008 to 10th March 2008.

————————————————————
Acknowledgement by landlady;

Signature:____________________
Date: ______________

————————————————————
Acknowledgement by tenants;

————————————————————

Witnessed;

By: Time to start blogging again « life @ anchorvale

Time to start blogging again « life @ anchorvale — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:06:49 +0000

[...] out to be a comment that I had left in my buddy Wilfrid’s blog. Ha [...]

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:02:21 +0000

Sing Chyun – No kidding. So it is not that isloated then. I thought since the mediator comes from the law background (I suppose), he or she should be able to offer some concert advice on moving forward.

Apparently not for my friend’s case.

By: sing chyun

sing chyun — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:28:01 +0000

I’m surprised at the lack of power of the SCT to dish out judgement on its own.

Have a friend too who was brought to SCT for failing to hand over her house’s keys on time after selling her flat. The claim amount was small – S$1,500. Similarly, the SCT offered no concrete solution at all. My friend refused to pay up, and now she’s like “wait for their lawyer letter to come lah!”

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:55:50 +0000

Sing Chyun – Hi, no external parties are allowed behind closed doors. The two parties are supposed to seek common ground with the presence of a mediator. In my friend’s case, it didn’t work out as the landlady insists on repainting and reflooring the entire flat.

My suggestion to my friend is: settle the outstanding bills with the landlady (turns out to be lower that what previously claimed) and call it a day. No one with a rational mind will go through the entire suing procedure for less than S$1,000 claim. And the claim is ridiculous to start with. Any lawyer who takes up that case would be just in for the money.

By: sing chyun

sing chyun — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:28:26 +0000

Hi Wilf, do they allow external parties (ie, you) into the hearing room? And were you allowed to speak?

By: wilfrid

wilfrid — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 07:05:03 +0000

Alex – Hi, the mediator at the Small Claims Tribunal didn’t really offer much help. He is playing the mediator role and that is all. Offered no opinion on what is right or wrong. When the landlady requested extra claim on the taxi fare and the salary for that day of absence from work, the mediator just laughed.

The outcome is, the landlady can file another hearing if she wants. Or they can settle in court properly.