For a two-month renovation in Singapore, start with a hotel or an approved serviced apartment. URA requires rental stays in private residential properties, including ordinary condos and landed houses, to last at least three consecutive months. A private condo advertised by the week therefore does not fit an eight-week renovation gap.
URA identifies hotels and serviced apartments as options for stays below three consecutive months. Hotels have no regulatory minimum stay and serviced apartments have a seven-day minimum. Confirm the property’s accommodation type, the provider’s booking terms and whether you can extend before paying. Read URA’s guidance on short-term accommodation.
- Write down the nights you need, including an allowance for delays.
- Check the actual type of accommodation being offered.
- Compare full-stay prices and the cost of adding a week.
- Test the route to school, childcare or work from the temporary address.
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Choose a place your household can live in for eight weeks
Daily routines matter more over eight weeks than on a weekend trip. Ask about cooking and laundry, space to work or study, maximum room occupancy and what the price includes. If you need to store belongings off-site, put storage and transport into the same comparison.
| What to compare | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Accommodation type | Is this a hotel or an approved serviced apartment? |
| Full-stay quote | Are taxes, cleaning and utilities included? |
| Change terms | How much notice is needed to extend or leave early? |
| Weekday routine | What is the actual school or work route at the usual time? |
| Storage | What can stay with us and what needs separate storage? |
A listing may use phrases such as “serviced condo” or “flexible stay.” Ask the operator to identify the type of property and the basis on which it offers your dates. A listing description alone gives you little to verify. Read URA’s private residential rental rules.
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Put a delay into the budget
Suppose your renovation is scheduled for 56 nights. One operator quotes $115 a night for those dates, and another quotes $6,200 for the full stay. The first works out to $6,440 before extras. The second appears cheaper by $240. Ask both operators for the price and availability of seven extra nights. Include storage, laundry and travel before comparing what you would actually spend.
Agree with the contractor on the date you will review progress. Use that date to check your accommodation extension options before the provider’s deadline. If school is in session, budget time as well as money. A longer trip twice a day can affect the household for the entire stay.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord give me a two-month condo lease if I pay in full?
URA’s minimum stay for renting private residential property is three consecutive months. Paying upfront does not change the applicable minimum.
How do I plan if my renovation end date is uncertain?
Compare the initial price and the extension terms together. Get any availability promise or price commitment in writing before relying on it.
What should I ask about children’s routines?
Check the school route at the relevant hour, the sleeping arrangement and a place where a child can do homework without sharing the family’s only dining surface every evening.