Moving in Singapore
House Insurance
Most of the time, house insurance in Singapore is provided by banks or property companies and is usually offered when the property is bought. Fire insurance is compulsory for financed properties. Some renters also choose to insure their belongings within a property.
To purchase house insurance or renter’s insurance, one can use their agent, who will provide and process the necessary forms and documentation. Information about the size of your house, the location, duration of insurance, and what specifically to insure from will be required. Documentation required usually includes your passport and employment pass. If other documents are needed, the agent will brief you about it.
Alternatively, you can directly contact an insurance association or agency, including one of the following:
- General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) -112 Robinson Road, #05-03 HB Robinson, Singapore 068902, Telephone: (65) 6221 8788 Fax: (65) 6227 2051
- HSBC – Tel: 1 800 4722 669 or +65 6472 2669
- AXA Insurance – Tel: 1 800 8804 741
Gas / Electricity / Water
Typically, renters pay for their own utilities, and your landlord or agent can help you transfer the utility account for your residence into your name. While Singapore Power (SP) supplies electricity, PowerGas provides gas, the National Environmental Agency coordinates garbage disposal, and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) supplies water, all are government owned and managed, and residents need only one utilities account to pay for all of the above. All utilities services are billed collectively by SP.
Water, electricity, and gas meters on the property record your usage, and utility bills are sent by post monthly with usage details and instructions for payment. Meters are only read, however, every two months, so you will receive an estimated bill on alternate months, which must be paid as-is and will be taken into account once the meter is read again. In other words, if you’ve paid too little or too much, SP will correct the discrepancy on the following month’s bill. Note, also, that if your meters are inside the home and the meter reader is unable to enter the property to record the meters, you may also receive an estimated bill. Alternatively, you can submit your own meter readings online via the SP website.
SP’s services website offers detailed information on service setup and payment. Setting up utility service is simply a process of requesting service and providing required documentation by one of the following methods, depending on whether lease or ownership is in your name or in your company’s:
Residential Account under Personal Name
You can apply to open a residential utilities account under your personal name by phone, by fax/ mail, online, by SMS, or at an SP customer service center.
The required documents are:
- Completed and signed application form (download the application form)
- Copy of NRIC/ Work Pass
- Proof of ownership/tenancy agreement (only upon request)
By telephone: Call 1 800 2222 333, appointments may be available as early as the next business day if application is received before 3pm on weekdays, or 12pm on Saturdays, required documents can be submitted to the technician by applicant or representative during the turn-on appointment
By fax: Fax 6304 8229, appointments usually available in approximately 3 business days if application is received before 3pm on weekdays, or 12pm on Saturday, required documents can be submitted to the technician by applicant or representative during the turn-on appointment
By post: Mail required documentation and application to Manager (Customer Services), SP Services Ltd, 111 Somerset Rd #01-10, Singapore 238164. Appointments can usually be made within 3 business days of your application’s receipt
Online: Visit SP’s services website to submit an online application. Appointments are usually available the next business day if the application is received before 3pm on weekdays, or 12pm on Saturday. After processing, a copy of the application form will be mailed to you for signature and submission within 7 business days, along with copy of NRIC/ Work Pass.
By SMS: Send an SMS to 71777 with the message “OPENACC”. Appointments are usually available the next business day if the application is received before 3pm on weekdays, or 12pm on Saturday. Required documents can be submitted to the technician by the applicant or representative during the turn-on appointment.
In Person: Simply bring along your Work Pass and passports along to an SP service center, and fill out an application form which will be made available to you there. Appointments are usually available the next business day if the application is received before 3pm on weekdays, or 12pm on Saturday.
Residential Account under Company Name
You can apply to open a residential utilities account under your company name by fax, post, or at one of SP’s mail customer service centers.
The required documents are:
- Completed and signed application form (download the application form)
- Copy of the business/ company registration certificate
- Copy of NRIC/ Work Pass for the authorized signatory of company representative or a letter of authorization issued by the company indicating the company representative’s name and NRIC/ Work Pass FIN no.
- Proof of ownership/ tenancy agreement (only upon our request)
While company registration is only available my fax, post, or in person, the waiting times and procedures are the same as above.
Express turn-on for same-day service can also be arranged for a fee of $50 with at least 3 hours’ advance notice.
An initial deposit is applicable upon opening a utilities account. Refuse collection charges will also commence upon opening of your account. The National Environment Agency has appointed Colex Holdings Ltd, SembWaste Pte Ltd, Veolia ES Singapore Pte Ltd and 800 Super Waste Management Ptd Ltd as refuse collectors for different geographical locations in Singapore. Charges vary depending on the type of business and the geographical location.
For gas turn-on, you must call City Gas at 1 800 555 1661 for an appointment after receiving confirmation of your account opening.
Payment
You can pay your SP bill by cheque, bank transfer, Giro (the automatic electronic payment system that requires a one-time setup and deducts your bill monthly from your bank account), or by one of the self-service automated machines (SAM) found in MRT stations and at post offices.
Electricity bills can get quite high, to the point that many expatriates learn to make do without air conditioning during the day. Running air conditioners at night or in peak heat times only and being conscious of other major appliance use can help keep the utility bill in a three-bedroom apartment to a manageable $500-600 monthly.
Also, many gas stove tops are actually fueled by individual fuel tanks within the stove – similar to what one might purchase for a large outdoor gas grill – and are not connected to the Singapore utility system. When these tanks run out of gas, one must simply check the sticker on the gas tank to get the service providers telephone number (or pick a company in the yellow pages). Replacement tanks usually arrive within the half hour, and tanks cost approximately SG$35.
Postal Services
Singapore’s postal service is operated solely by SingPost, the national postal agency, which provides a very efficient service. SingPost also facilitates easy mail service from Europe, Japan, and the US via its vPost services to those countries, which allow for more affordable mailings. International options like Fedex, DHL, and UPS are available as well. One need not complete any formal process to establish postal service at your home – simply provide your address to senders.
For posting of letters locally or overseas, simply purchase stamps from any convenience store or post office, address your envelope, affix the stamp on the top right hand corner, and post your mail in one of the numerous letter boxes around the island or at your neighborhood post office. Parcels must be mailed at Singpost outlets. Post offices are also used to process and submit government paperwork, pay bills and fines, purchase mobile phone cards, renew driver’s licenses, and more. Post offices are typically open from 8:30 or 9:30 am until 5 pm.
Singapore Post Limited website contains further information about postal services in Singapore.
Shipping / Relocation Companies
The right shipping or relocation company can provide invaluable assistance related to your move, as many offer additional support services. Consultants not only handle shipment of your physical goods, they can also help you settle in by personally assisting you with city orientation, selecting international schools, finding social outlets, etc. Some of Singapore’s favorite international relocation companies include the following:
