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9 Best Rental Agents in Singapore (August 2026)
My picks for the best rental and leasing agents in Singapore for 2026, for tenants and landlords. Compared on who typically pays and typical commission.
This guide is part of Terris Recommends, my researched, hands-on picks of the best local businesses and services in Singapore. Every recommendation is researched and ranked by me.
See all recommendationsRenting out a property, or renting one, runs more smoothly with the right rental agent, someone who finds a good match quickly, screens the other party, and gets the tenancy agreement and handover right. It sounds simple, but a bad tenancy or a poorly drafted agreement can cost you months of grief, which is exactly what a good leasing agent exists to prevent.
I researched this the way I approach everything in this series, comparing the agencies with the strongest rental and leasing operations on their reach, their handling of tenant and landlord representation, and how well they manage the practical details that trip people up: commission, stamp duty, and the HDB subletting rules. Every agent worth using is registered with the Council for Estate Agencies, which you should always verify.
Below are the nine rental agents and agencies I would trust in 2026, plus the context that matters: who actually pays the commission, and the rules to know before you sign. If you want the wider field first, see my guide to the best property agents in Singapore.
The most common confusion in a Singapore rental is who pays the agent. The convention depends on the monthly rent and the lease length, and it is always negotiable. Here is the market norm in 2026.
| Scenario | Who typically pays | Typical commission |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord, 1-year lease | Landlord | ~0.5 month's rent |
| Landlord, 2-year lease | Landlord | ~1 month's rent |
| Tenant, rent S$3,500+/month, 2-year lease | Usually no tenant fee | Co-broked, landlord pays |
| Tenant, rent below S$3,500 or short lease | Tenant | ~0.5 to 1 month's rent |
The logic is that on higher-value, longer leases the landlord's commission is enough to cover both agents co-broking the deal, so the tenant pays nothing. On smaller or shorter lets, a tenant's agent may charge the tenant for their work. One agent should not collect a full fee from both sides for the same service, so always clarify who is paying whom, and get it in writing before you proceed.
A good rental agent handles these for you, but you should understand them too, whether you are the tenant or the landlord.
- Stamp duty on the tenancy. A tenancy agreement attracts stamp duty, calculated on the rent and lease term, and it is normally the tenant who pays it. Your agent lodges it with IRAS.
- HDB subletting rules. If you are renting out an HDB flat or bedroom, you must meet the Minimum Occupation Period and register the rental with HDB, within set occupancy limits. The official rules are on the HDB renting a flat pages.
- The diplomatic and reimbursement clauses. Expat tenants often need a diplomatic clause allowing early termination if they leave Singapore. A good agent negotiates fair terms here.
- Inventory and handover. A proper inventory list and condition check at handover prevents disputes over the security deposit at the end of the lease.
Whether you are letting or renting, verify your agent on the CEA Public Register, and make sure the tenancy agreement is clear on deposit, repairs and the minor repair clause before anyone signs.
As with any large agency, choose the individual agent on their rental track record in your area. But for speed of matching and breadth of choice, whether you are a landlord wanting minimal vacancy or a tenant wanting options, PropNex is a strong first call.
- Best known for
- The widest pool of rental listings and tenants
- Website
- propnex.com
For a landlord wanting a fast, well-screened let, or an incoming expat needing a home before they land, ERA's combination of local depth and international reach makes it a dependable choice.
- Best known for
- Island-wide rentals with strong expat reach
- Website
- era.com.sg
For a landlord who wants their unit seen widely, or a tenant who wants an experienced agent with plenty of options, Huttons is a reliable, well-resourced choice alongside PropNex and ERA.
- Best known for
- Broad condo and private rental coverage
- Website
- huttonsgroup.com
For a landlord treating a property as an investment, that data-led approach to rent-setting and tenant demand is genuinely useful. It is a strong option if you want the numbers behind the rental strategy, not just a quick listing.
- Best known for
- Data-driven rental pricing and yield advice
- Website
- orangetee.com
For a straightforward condo or HDB rental where you want a clear, modern process rather than a traditional agent relationship, Bluenest is worth comparing. It is a good fit for cost-conscious landlords and tenants who are comfortable with a platform-led approach.
- Best known for
- A transparent, tech-enabled rental process
- Website
- bluenest.sg
Its international reach and corporate relationships make it especially strong for company-leased homes and senior expat placements, where a landlord wants a well-vetted, reliable corporate tenant. For a premium property, Knight Frank's positioning fits the market perfectly.
- Best known for
- Prime and luxury rentals, corporate lets
- Website
- knightfrank.com.sg
For a prime residential let, or any rental where corporate relationships and a professional, well-documented process matter, Savills is a credible, well-resourced choice.
- Best known for
- Prime rentals and corporate leasing
- Website
- savills.com.sg
For an established, advisory-minded firm handling a residential or mixed leasing requirement, ETC is a dependable option that brings genuine market experience to the table.
- Best known for
- Corporate and advisory-led leasing
- Website
- etcsea.com
It depends on the rent and lease length. For a one-year lease the landlord typically pays about half a month's rent, and for a two-year lease about one month. When the monthly rent is S$3,500 or more on a two-year lease, the tenant usually pays nothing because the agents co-broke and the landlord's commission covers both. On lower-rent or shorter leases, a tenant's agent may charge the tenant. It is all negotiable, so confirm who pays what in writing.
No, but most landlords use one. A good rental agent markets the unit, screens tenants, negotiates the terms, drafts the tenancy agreement, and manages the inventory and handover, which reduces the risk of a bad tenancy. For an HDB flat there are also subletting rules and registration to handle. If you are confident managing all of that yourself, you can rent it out directly.
Yes. A tenancy agreement attracts stamp duty calculated on the rent and the lease term, and it is normally the tenant who pays it. Your agent or you can lodge and pay it through IRAS. It is a modest but mandatory cost, and the tenancy is not properly stamped until it is paid.
Yes, subject to HDB rules. You must have met the Minimum Occupation Period to sublet the whole flat, register the rental with HDB, and stay within the occupancy limits. You can also sublet individual bedrooms under separate rules. The full requirements are on the HDB website, and a good agent will make sure you comply.
A diplomatic clause lets a tenant, usually an expat, terminate the lease early without penalty if they are relocated out of Singapore or their employment ends, typically after a minimum period such as 12 months and with two months' notice. It is common in expat tenancies, and a good agent negotiates fair terms for both sides.
Rental enquiries move fast, and the agents who capture them are the ones who show up online with clear listings and an easy way to get in touch. If your website is not turning searches into rental leads, that is the part I help with.
I build fast, search-optimised websites for property agents, with the listing pages, area guides and local SEO that turn Google searches into enquiries you own rather than leads you rent from a portal. It is the same organic lead engine I cover in my guide to real estate agent websites and SEO.
Want the same for your business? Get a quote, or read more about my web design and SEO services.
The best rental agent in Singapore depends on your property and your priorities. For the widest, fastest matching, start with PropNex, ERA or Huttons. For data-led rent-setting, OrangeTee. For a keener, tech-led process, Bluenest. And for prime and corporate lets, Knight Frank or Savills.
Whichever you choose, clarify who pays the commission in writing, make sure the tenancy agreement and stamp duty are handled properly, and verify the agent on the CEA Public Register. For the rest of your property team, see my guides to the best property agents and the best HDB resale agents in Singapore.
