Real estate jargon in Singapore
For Singapore, it is not difficult to identify the terms used in real estate transactions. All of the terms reflect a widespread use of English in the realm of communication, and this singular use has resulted in a highly developed real estate jargon that has brought together the four major racial groups into a harmonious whole. This is reflected in the dynamism of the city-state’s real estate scene.
Real estate professionals
In Singapore, professional names and terms take their rightful place in real estate transactions.
When it comes to real estate terms used, there is no doubt that ethnic groups have their own terms in their own different languages, but these have largely failed to establish a niche to become part of real estate jargon.
The use of English terms in the real estate field is predominant.
property types
semi separated – 2 houses that share a common wall, but maintain separate gardens.
linked house – 1 of 2 earthly houses joined together by a common wall that separates their garages. The common wall is the side wall of the two car porches.
Terraced houses – These are houses that are joined in a row that often have a paved or grassed garden. Larger versions of this type can have a swimming pool, a playground or a gym.
corner terrace – This is a country house located at the end of a row of semi-detached houses that occupies a larger land area compared to semi-detached houses.
Cottage – The duplex is a building with a 2-level residential unit inside. The adjoining floors are connected by an internal staircase that leads from the ground to the upper floor.
stores – A store is a legacy of Singapore’s past consisting of a store area below and dwellings above. Many have been renovated to enhance the original features and mosaics. They have small outdoor areas but contain internal courtyards and are located in the central and eastern part of the island.
single family homes – These dwellings are fundamentally bungalow-type constructions that can be one, two or three stories high.
black and white – Like the shops, these buildings are reminiscent of the British colonial era and were used to house air, ground and administrative staff. They range from small terraced houses to palatial residences raised on stilts. Many have huge gardens and service areas. They can be rented but without air conditioning, fans and bedding, which the buyer must buy from previous tenants.
dead end house – A dirt house situated at the end of a large dead end road where a return path has been built.
duplex house – A 2-story building containing a residential unit on the first floor and a second residential unit on the second floor. Residents share the same land and an exterior staircase connects the first floor residential unit to the unit above.
Terraced house – A residential unit at ground level attached to a row of 3 or more residential units that have common ownership of the land.
cluster dwelling – This type of residential unit is a cross between land and condominium housing. All houses are built at ground level and residents share facilities like those found in condominiums. The dwellings in a cluster have Estrato Titles.
Apartments: An apartment can range from studios to large 5-bedroom apartments that can occupy 1 or 2 floors of a building.
Condominiums – Condominiums are also known as condominiums, which, in addition to providing rental accommodation, also provide facilities such as a gym, tennis court, event room, swimming pool, and sometimes a small store.
penthouses – These are less common rental units offering outdoor privacy with colossal views available. Many have their own “Jacuzzi” whirlpool baths.
other terminology
shared deal – A situation where more than 1 liaison officer between a landlord or landlord and multiple tenants.
Empty furnished or unfurnished – This highlights a residential unit that is provided without any furniture except for kitchen space, faucets, and light fixtures.
Fully furnished – A housing unit or house that is provided with common items such as refrigerator, washing machine, television, furniture, wardrobes, beds, mattresses and similar items and furnishings.
Partially furnished – A partially furnished unit or house is equipped with only some and not all of the most common furniture items.
HDB – This is an abbreviation for the Housing Development Board, which is fully responsible for all public (government) housing in Singapore.
HDB flats are units provided by the government to house its citizens. They can rent their flats or sublet rooms to permanent residents, non-citizens, students or people with work permits. There are restrictions and these must be checked first before making any commitments.
N-block or block – to the sale of a property by majority vote of the owners to give rise to a new property. For developments less than 10 years old a 90% majority vote is required, but for developments 10 years old and older only an 80% majority is required.
Strata Title – Multi-level apartment units are divided into separate levels or “strata”.
upper part – A “Top” refers to a temporary occupancy permit. A unit that has been labeled as a “Superior” unit means that the unit is ready for occupancy.
common room – This term refers to a living area within the same HDB apartment or house. It is usually shared by other occupants who live in the same apartment or house.
main room – A separate room within the same HDB apartment or house that is available only to the person paying the rent. It is usually partially or fully furnished with the full range of amenities and appliances. The quality of the main room is reflected in the rental price charged.
peace – Commonly used by agents and landlords when referring to tenants living in rental units, the term was originally used by the travel industry, which referred to passengers.
Lease – The right to own real estate for 99 years or the right to own property for 999 years, a version of the first type of lease.
life property – The right to land ownership in perpetuity or without any limit to such ownership.