A Singapore condo landlord can arrange sale viewings during a tenancy if the signed tenancy agreement and the parties’ arrangements allow it. Check the sale-viewing clause, notice method, appointment conditions and who may enter. The CEA-hosted model agreement uses at least 48 hours’ written notice and a prior appointment at a reasonable time for prospective sale viewings. That is a template term and your signed agreement may differ.
A viewing request is separate from any request to end the lease early. If the landlord is selling subject to tenancy, ask how the buyer, tenancy, rent and deposit will be handled. Record access arrangements in writing, especially if photographs, keys or an unaccompanied visit are requested.
- Read the signed sale-viewing clause and any additional terms.
- Check the purpose, notice period, time and visitors for each appointment.
- Treat listing photographs and access without the tenant as separate questions.
- Check the tenancy position separately if the sale goes ahead.
Find the section you need
Chapters 1–3
Find the clause that covers a sale viewing
Read the main agreement and any schedules, addenda or later written changes. Search for access, viewing, sale with tenancy and notice. Identify whether the provision applies during the whole term or a narrower period. Check how written notice is to be sent and whether the appointment needs to be agreed. Do not treat an agent’s preferred practice as part of the agreement unless it actually is.
CEA hosts a model tenancy agreement for private residential property and explains that it is optional and negotiable. Its sale-viewing clause describes at least 48 hours’ written notice, a prior appointment and reasonable times, with the sale subject to the tenancy under that wording. A signed agreement may have different periods or terms. Read your actual document before telling either side what it has to do.
Separate sale viewings from reletting
The CEA-hosted template has a separate clause for people viewing with a view to taking a tenancy. It uses its own time window near expiry or termination. A prospective buyer and a prospective new tenant have different purposes. Ask which one is coming and read the relevant clause. The notice requirements can look similar without applying in the same period.
If the agreement is silent or unclear, ask the parties to agree a practical arrangement in writing and seek legal advice if there is a dispute about access. A request can be made even if the parties need to agree what is acceptable. Avoid treating ownership or possession of a spare key as a complete answer to whether entry is authorised.
| Request | What to read or check | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Prospective buyer viewing | Sale-viewing clause | Notice, appointment and who attends |
| Prospective tenant viewing | Reletting clause | When the clause applies and notice required |
| Listing photography | Agreement and specific consent | Rooms and personal items in frame |
| Entry using a spare key | Access provisions and actual agreement | Whether and how entry is authorised |
| Early move-out | Termination or surrender terms | Dates, rent, deposit and handover in writing |
Back to contents · Next chapter
Read the notice with dates visible
Record when the request was received, the proposed appointment and what it says about the visitors. If the agreement requires a particular form of notice, check whether that was used. If it specifies hours, count the actual elapsed time and check the proposed appointment. A request for a visit tomorrow may be too short under a clause requiring 48 hours. The tenant can still consider agreeing to a shorter period for that visit if they wish.
Suppose the agent messages on Tuesday evening for a Thursday morning viewing. That would be less than 48 hours. If the signed agreement follows the model term, point to it and offer a suitable later slot. If the signed agreement uses a different rule, apply that one. Record any one-off agreement so it is clear whether it changes only that appointment or any future arrangement.
Agree who will attend and for how long
Ask who is organising the viewing, approximately how many people will come and whether the landlord or authorised agent will accompany them. Confirm the start time and likely duration. If either party has work, school or childcare constraints, propose practical windows. For repeated viewings, grouping appointments can reduce disruption if the parties agree and the contract permits it.
Confirm what happens if the visitor is late or the appointment is cancelled. Keep a contact for the day. A short message stating the agreed time, who will attend and any limits gives both sides a record. If access would be difficult at that time, explain why and propose another time rather than leaving the request unanswered.
Count the notice period with an example
Suppose a tenant receives a written sale-viewing request at 7 pm on Tuesday for 6 pm on Thursday. The interval is 47 hours. If the actual agreement requires 48 hours’ notice, the proposed appointment is short of that period. The parties can discuss moving the visit or agreeing to it on that occasion. A message agreeing to one particular visit should state whether it is a one-off arrangement.
Now change the example. The landlord asks on Monday for a Friday evening appointment and the tenant is unable to attend. The notice period might be met, while time, supervision or access still needs agreement under the applicable wording. A request with sufficient notice does not answer every other question. Check whether the clause says the time must be reasonable or that the visit is by prior appointment. Propose a specific alternative where possible.
Use the notice method in the contract and check when notice is treated as received if the document addresses that. If a message is sent to a different number or email address, clarify the position and keep the reply. Avoid relying on read receipts alone where the agreement requires another method. Seek advice if the parties disagree about a material deadline.
A short written arrangement is often enough for an ordinary visit. It can state the date, time, organiser, expected number of people and whether photos are allowed. Keep the original request as well. If the same dispute recurs, the record makes it easier to establish what was requested and how the parties responded.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Next chapter
Ask what the photographer needs
Permission for a person to view the unit does not necessarily resolve whether interior photographs can be taken and used in a public listing. Check the signed agreement and ask about the scope and intended use. If you agree to photography, discuss which rooms can be photographed and whether identifying personal items can be excluded. If an agent intends to reuse older photos, ask whether they accurately show the current unit and do not reveal material the tenant has not agreed to share.
For example, a tenant may be comfortable with pictures of the living room after personal papers have been moved, but may want bedrooms kept out of the listing. State the arrangement before the photographer arrives. Avoid assuming that agreeing to a viewing at a particular time establishes agreement to filming, a virtual tour or publication.
Check whether someone may enter when you are out
If the tenant will be absent, agree in writing whether entry is permitted, who will use the key and when it will happen. Read any access clause and get legal advice if it is disputed. Do not assume consent from silence. A prior appointment should identify the people and purpose. If you agree to an unaccompanied visit, consider how the unit will be secured afterwards and when you will receive confirmation that the visit ended.
The parties should also agree how to manage pets or other practical concerns. A tenant with a cat may want the agent to keep particular doors closed. A landlord may need to tell viewers about building access rules. These points can be handled in a practical appointment message, separate from any long-term change to the tenancy.
Put the access boundaries into the appointment message
Imagine a tenant agrees that the appointed agent can show the living room and bedrooms while the tenant is present. A prospective buyer later asks to film the whole unit for a relative. Check whether the earlier arrangement covered that. The tenant and landlord can agree a narrower arrangement, such as allowing the buyer to take notes or requesting separate permission for specific images. Make sure the people attending know what has been agreed before they enter.
If existing photos are to be used, ask who took them and whether they accurately show the current condition. A picture from before the tenancy may show different furniture or a room arrangement that no longer applies. An occupied home can contain photographs, work documents or other personal information. Keep those details outside the agreed image scope. The person coordinating the viewing should relay any limits to the photographer and buyers.
If the tenant will not be home, clarify whether an agent may collect a key and what happens afterwards. Agree who locks the unit, returns access cards and reports any issue. Do not assume a tenant who has agreed to one unattended visit has agreed to all future visits. Verify the particular arrangement and use a record that both parties can find.
For repeat appointments, identify an organiser and ask for changes in writing. A tenant can make practical preparations, such as arranging for a pet to be in a secure room. The agent can explain any building entry procedure to visitors. Those details are easier to coordinate with a specific plan than with an open-ended request for access.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Next chapter
Use a written arrangement for recurring requests
If the sale takes time, the parties can discuss regular viewing windows. Set out how much notice is still required, who confirms each appointment and what happens if either party needs to reschedule. Read the agreement before using a standing arrangement. If the parties are changing a term, record what they intend to change and whether it applies for a limited period.
For instance, a tenant who works from home may offer two suitable windows a week, and the landlord may prefer to group buyers. Confirm whether those windows are available only by prior appointment. Ask the agent to limit the expected duration and give a message if a buyer cancels. This preserves a practical way to market the property while letting the tenant plan around visits.
Keep the discussion specific if there is disagreement
Identify the request, notice and clause at issue. If the issue is privacy, describe what access or photography would address it. If the issue is timing, propose a realistic alternative. Save the correspondence, especially if there is a pattern of requests at short notice. Do not change the locks, withhold rent or take another step without checking the contractual and legal consequences.
If a property agent is involved, CEA’s consumer page describes its scope and options for disputes. A disagreement about the tenancy itself may need mediation, legal advice or another suitable process. Check the appropriate route for the issue and any filing requirements. A clear record makes it easier for an adviser to understand what happened.
Use a written proposal when several viewings are expected
One party can propose a plan that names the days, length of each appointment, notice and people who will coordinate access. Say whether the windows are available only when a specific visit is confirmed and what happens if a buyer is late or cancels. If photographs are part of marketing, settle that question separately. Put any exception for a single visit in writing so it is clear whether it applies again.
For example, a landlord might request Saturday morning appointments because prospective buyers are available then. A tenant might be able to offer a weekday evening instead, or a shorter window on Saturday. Check the agreement and discuss a schedule that works in practice. If the parties agree to combine two appointments, ask the agent to explain the expected duration and who will be in the home. Give everyone the same information.
If the arrangement breaks down, return to the signed clause and a dated record of requests. Identify whether the dispute concerns the notice, access, timing or how the property is marketed. A disagreement about one late appointment is different from a request for broad access. Ask for legal advice if the parties cannot resolve the contract question. Use CEA’s guidance to identify the appropriate route if the concern relates to an agent’s conduct.
Keep the final agreement where both sides can find it and review it when the sale status changes. A landlord may stop marketing or switch agents, while the tenant may plan travel. An updated note prevents future requests from relying on a schedule that no longer applies.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Next chapter
Ask whether the buyer is taking subject to tenancy
A landlord arranging viewings may intend to sell with the tenancy in place. Ask for the confirmed position and how the transfer will be communicated. Check what happens to rent payments, the security deposit and any outstanding repair obligation. Before redirecting payment, verify the instructions through trusted contacts and obtain confirmation of the effective date.
If the owner wants vacant possession before the end of the term, read the contract and get advice on whether there is a right to end early. The parties may discuss a mutual surrender if they wish. If they reach agreement, record the move-out date, any compensation, rent, deposit, condition checks and key handover. Avoid assuming that a viewing or an agreement to sell changes the tenancy by itself.
Verify a notice about new ownership
Use the actual sale and tenancy documents or confirmations from the relevant parties. Ask who will hold the deposit, what amount has been transferred or remains due, and when rent should be paid to the new recipient. Keep the signed tenancy and prior payment records. A message with a new bank account should be independently verified before making payment.
If the buyer will take over as landlord, ask how the parties will handle existing permissions or promises about repairs. Record what is acknowledged and any further agreement. If a claim is made that a tenant has to leave on a particular date, ask for the contractual basis and seek advice promptly if it is disputed.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Next chapter
Set a consistent process
A useful record can include the signed clause, the preferred notice channel, agreed windows and any separate rules for photographs or unattended entry. Keep each confirmed appointment and cancellation. If a new agent is appointed, ask how their authority is verified and who will coordinate with the tenant. Make sure the latest arrangement is available to the people using it.
Landlords can set expectations before marketing. Tell the agent that the home is tenanted and share the relevant viewing conditions. A prospective buyer should understand that an occupied home needs an appointment and that some areas or photos may require separate arrangements. Do not promise vacant possession or unfettered access unless the documents support it.
Review the arrangement before handover
When the marketing period ends or the unit is sold, check whether any viewings remain scheduled. Confirm what information about the tenant needs to be passed to a new owner and use appropriate channels. Retain the relevant lease and handover records. If there is a new payment or deposit arrangement, verify it before relying on it.
A tenant planning to remain can use the handover to check contact details for repairs and notices. A tenant moving out can ask about inspection, keys and deposit timing. Those steps should follow the signed agreement or any later documented arrangement. Keep the final dates in writing so both sides know what to expect.
Keep the viewing record separate from a proposed early surrender
A landlord might ask to group viewings in the next two weeks and also ask whether the tenant would consider leaving early. Record these as separate questions. A tenant can cooperate with an appointment while still reviewing the early move-out request. Ask what date is proposed, why it is needed and what the parties would agree about rent, compensation, condition and the deposit. Take advice if either party says the move is required and the contractual position is unclear.
A tenant who wants to remain can ask how the current tenancy will be recognised in the sale and who will manage it after completion. A tenant considering leaving should compare the actual cost and timing of an alternative home. Include any rent overlap, moving and cleaning costs. Do not commit to a new place before the proposed early handover terms are confirmed.
If the sale goes ahead with the tenancy, check the official communication about new ownership and the date any new instructions apply. Verify any request to change payment details through a trusted contact and keep the prior records. Ask who holds the deposit and how repairs or notices should be handled. A change to the recipient of rent should be documented independently of arrangements for viewings.
At the end of the process, record whether the tenancy continues, whether any agreement was made and what dates still apply. This makes it easier for the tenant, landlord and any incoming owner to work from the same information. Keep the viewing correspondence if it is relevant to a dispute, and retain the signed tenancy and any later agreement for the handover.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Next chapter
Is 48 hours a universal legal rule?
It appears in the CEA-hosted optional template. Check the signed agreement and applicable law for your case.
Can the landlord use a spare key to show the unit?
Check the contractual authority and actual agreement for entry. Resolve any disagreement before relying on access.
Can a buyer take pictures during the viewing?
Ask what is allowed and agree on scope and use. A viewing and permission to publish photos are different questions.
Do I have to move out because the owner wants to sell?
Check the tenancy and sale arrangements. Seek advice if the landlord asks for early possession or if the notice is disputed.
What should I do before paying rent to a new account?
Verify the change and effective date independently and keep written confirmation.
Back to contents · Previous chapter · Official sources and next reading