What will you resort to with the Integrated Resort? - Part 2

.
He is doing it again! The landlord is asking for a higher rent. Last year, he asked for a 36% rise. We settled for 17%. This year he wants a whopping 81% rise on the new lease, from the already risen rent. Compounded from the two years, it is a 114% rise.
.
This time, I have to move out. The agent claimed that she has not received my sms notice to her to extend the lease. I can't prove that I have sent the sms, and even if I could, I cannot prove that she has received it. So, this is futile. Besides, I cannot endure more of her persistent resort to the letter of contract saying that legally I must move out. He is now giving me about three weeks to move out. The alternative is eviction.
.
I have just spoken directly to the landlord. He told me my lease has expired and that if I have no where to go, it is not his problem. He said that I knew my lease was ending and should have been proactive. But shouldn't the agent be proactive too as I am paying her to take care also of my interest? Apparently, both the landlord and her are turning a deaf ear to compassion and choose to take the legal route, which I have no grounds of winning. Even my appeal to extend for another two months so that I can find another flat to stay, on the current rent, was turned down.
.
I will move out. My appeal has gone to uncaring ears. My landlord, an ex-Member of Parliament, probably knows his legal rights and moral wrongs better than I do.
.
I wonder how many more people are experiencing this. There is no rent protection laws in Singapore. The Parliament has decided to leave it to market forces. But, what market forces? Property prices have risen, but surely not by 114% in the area where I live. So what justifies the phenomenal rent increase? It is still the same apartment I live in. In fact it has since aged by 4 years, with duller paint, squekier fixtures and the faded curtains.

.

So, the property inflation is speculation. This will soon lead to a property bubble burst. We are accentuating the boom-bust cycles, which the majority will lose. (Watch the impending credit crunch that is coming up that will impact the market. See also, here.)
.
This is the early effects of the announcement of the Integrated Resort (read casino). Speculations are rife. Apartment blocks as new as ten years old are torn down to build taller smaller units that sell for higher profits. Not very good for the environment as it is such a waste of resources. It's all about money!
.
I have taken this as a calling. A calling that I will put up a blog post series documenting the effects of the integrated resorts. I believe more problems are coming. Already, we have family breakups due to the legalising of soccer bettings and their availability of doing that online. There will be more gambling related problems to come. Watch this space!

What will you resort to with the Integrated Resort?

Got news from my landlord recently that my rent is going up by 36%. He gave me only a few days to make a decision. If I do not agree with him he can choose to evict me. That was a big jump with a very short notice. He has refused to speak to me directly and has communicated with me via his agent who repeatedly threatened me with the law and eviction.

.

I have told her that I will bring the matter to my Member of Parliament, but on second thoughts, what's the point? He is after all, an ex-Member of Parliament himself and probably know his legal rights and moral wrongs more than I do.

.

I wasn't even fighting the rent increase so much, but merely asking for more time to move out and live in it under the old rent till January, since I had to travel to Saudi Arabia till January for business. Haiz! It is hard to believe I have rented his premises for four years and that is how he treats me. Did I hear the President said something about the new 5Cs we should have? What? Is one of them "Compassion"?

.

Recently, landlords are asking for increased rent in response to property price rises in the prime districts, after the announcement of the development of the integrated resort in Singapore. However, for the suburban East where I live, I got a feeling that it is just wishful thinking. The prime district property price increases are moved by foreign investors. In the suburbs, they cater mostly to the local market. I don't hear of local people earning more money in business or salaries recently and banks are not easier with their loans, so how can property prices go up here?

.

I have since found out that there is no law to protect tenants against astronomical rise in rental prices and landlords can evict tenants who refused to butt.

So, with the debate of whether we are going to have an integrated resort or not is out of the way, perhaps it is time to think of what we are going to resort to with all the new 'opportunities' out there.

.

I believe that gambling is bad, since for one to win, many have to lose, and the adverse effects are many. Be prepared to hear of more of these resorts of the resorts.

.
Background information:
Las Vegas Sands Is Chosen to Build Singapore Casino - New York Times