Agent Commission for Rentals in Singapore: Homejourney Cost Guide 2026

Agent commission for rentals in Singapore is not fixed by law, but the market norm in 2026 is usually around half a month to one month’s rent depending on lease length, rent amount, and whether you are a tenant or landlord.

However, recent guidelines and evolving practices – especially for tenancies below S$6,000 per month – mean both tenants and landlords must understand who pays which fee before signing anything. Homejourney’s focus on safety and transparency helps you see these costs clearly upfront so you can budget confidently and avoid disputes later.

How this commission guide fits into your wider rental journey

This article is a focused Agent Commission for Rentals in Singapore Explained Cost Guide that sits under Homejourney’s broader tenancy rights and cost pillar content, such as our Tenant Rights Singapore 2026: Complete Cost Guide .

Here, we zoom in specifically on agent commission rental costs – tenant agent fee, landlord agent fee, and how property agent commission is usually calculated – so both landlords and tenants can plan ahead and avoid unpleasant surprises at key handover moments.

If you’re still comparing units, you can browse verified listings and see fee information clearly presented on Homejourney’s rental search: Property Search .

Key principles: How rental agent fees work in Singapore

Before diving into numbers, it helps to understand the basic rules that govern rental agent fee practices in Singapore:

No fixed legal rates: There is no law that sets a fixed property agent commission in Singapore. Fees are negotiated and must be clearly stated in the estate agency agreement, as highlighted by industry guidance and CEA-prescribed forms.[5]
Commission usually linked to rent and lease length: Market norms are quoted as a fraction of monthly rent, commonly around 0.5 month for a one‑year lease and 1 month for a two‑year lease.[1][3][5]
Each party’s agent should act only for that party: Singapore’s regulatory framework (Council for Estate Agencies – CEA) requires agents to avoid conflicts of interest and represent either landlord or tenant, not both.
Best practice trend – each party pays their own agent: Recent industry best practice guidelines from the Singapore Estate Agents Association (SEAA) encourage landlord agents to collect commission only from landlords and tenant agents from tenants.[2]
Everything should be written down: Commission, GST, and payment trigger (e.g. upon signing tenancy agreement) should be recorded in the estate agency agreement and tenancy agreement for clarity.[5]

Typical rental agent commission scenarios in 2026

Although everything is negotiable, there are strong “street norms” most agents and landlords still follow. As someone who has sat through countless signing sessions in estates from Punggol to Tiong Bahru, the patterns below are what you will actually encounter on the ground.

1. Landlord renting out a whole unit (HDB or condo)

For whole-unit rentals, a common structure in the market is:[1][3][5]

1-year lease: Around 0.5 month’s rent payable to the landlord’s agent.
2-year lease: Around 1 month’s rent payable to the landlord’s agent.
Room rentals: Often 0.5–1 month’s rent, more variable because of smaller ticket size and higher coordination effort.[5]

Historically, landlords often paid the full commission and, for higher-rent properties, the commission was shared with the tenant’s agent.[1][3] In practice, a landlord renting a S$4,500/month condo in Bishan for two years might pay around S$4,500 in commission, typically upon signing the tenancy agreement.

2. Tenant engaging a tenant’s agent

For tenants, especially expats unfamiliar with Singapore’s process, having a tenant’s agent is common. Under prevailing norms:[3][5]

Rent below about S$4,000/month: Tenants often pay 0.5 month’s rent per year of lease (so 0.5 month for 1-year, 1 month for 2-year).
Rent above S$4,000–6,000/month: In the past, tenants often did not pay commission; landlord’s agent shared commission instead.[1][3]

However, SEAA’s 2024 Best Practice Guideline recommends that tenant agents collect commission from tenants directly, especially for properties under S$6,000 per month.[2] Practically, this means a tenant renting a S$3,200/month HDB in Tampines for two years may need to budget an additional S$1,600–S$3,200 for their tenant agent fee, depending on the agreement.

3. Impact of SEAA’s 2024 Best Practice Guideline on tenant commission

According to the SEAA guideline effective from 1 July 2024, agents are “encouraged” (not legally forced) to collect commission only from the party they represent.[2] For tenants, this means:

For many units under S$6,000/month, tenants should be prepared to pay their tenant agent directly.[2]
A typical norm mentioned is 1 month’s rent for a two‑year lease or 0.5 month for a one‑year lease as the tenant’s commission.[2]
Where the landlord’s agent does not pay the tenant’s agent, a 0.5‑month commission is often adopted regardless of 1- or 2‑year lease.[2]

Homejourney recommends that tenants clarify this early in the viewing process instead of waiting until the Letter of Intent (LOI) stage. On our rental listings, you will increasingly see fee structures disclosed upfront to minimise misunderstandings: Property Search .

Who pays what: Tenant agent fee vs landlord agent fee

Because practices are evolving, it is important to separate traditional norms from current best practice trends in property agent commission for rentals.

Traditional norms (still common on the ground)

Landlord-only agent (no tenant agent): Landlord pays the landlord’s agent ~0.5 month per year of lease. Tenant does not pay commission.
Dual-agency-like arrangement (discouraged now): Landlord’s agent unofficially assists tenant and still collects only from landlord. Regulators discourage this due to potential conflict of interest.
Co-broking (two agents): Landlord pays landlord’s agent, who shares part of the commission with tenant’s agent.[1][3]

Current best practice direction

Landlord’s agent is paid by landlord.
Tenant’s agent is paid by tenant.[2]
Any sharing between agents should not affect the client’s agreed commission.

In reality, you will still see a mix of old and new practices. This is why Homejourney emphasises transparent fee disclosure and encourages users to request the agreed commission in writing before paying any deposits or signing an LOI.

How to calculate your agent commission for rentals

Calculating your expected rental agent fee is straightforward once you know which scenario you fall into. Use these steps as a quick decision framework.