What happens if you break your lease while using Rently’s deposit advance service?
Breaking a lease in Singapore can already be stressful. If you are also using Rently’s deposit advance service, also known as Lower Move-In Costs, there are a few important things to understand before you move out or agree to early termination with your landlord.
Rently’s deposit advance service helps tenants reduce their upfront move-in costs by paying the security deposit directly to the landlord. The tenant then repays Rently over time according to the product terms agreed at activation.
However, the service is tied to the full duration of your Tenancy Agreement. This means that if your lease ends early, your repayment obligation to Rently does not automatically end or reduce. Any outstanding balance owed to Rently becomes due.
This guide explains what tenants in Singapore should know if they need to break their lease while using Rently’s deposit advance service.
This article is based on Rently's Term of Service for the Lower move-in costs feature which allows tenants to rent without having to pay the full deposit on the first month.
Full Term of service as a ref.
https://cdn-prod.rently.sg/terms/lowermovincosts-en-v1.html?_gl=1*1n1eeeh*_gcl_au*ODI2NTMzMDcuMTc4MTQ5MzQwMA..*_ga*MzU3NzQwMjYzLjE3NDgyNDk4MDY.*_ga_BNFE5TV0TL*czE3ODE3NjI5NDAkbzMyMyRnMSR0MTc4MTc2NTY2NCRqNTUkbDAkaDA.
1. Tell Rently immediately if your lease may end early
If your Tenancy Agreement may end earlier than expected, you should inform Rently immediately.
This applies whether the early termination is initiated by you, agreed with your landlord, caused by relocation, linked to a landlord dispute, or due to another reason. Even if you are still discussing the situation with your landlord or agent, it is important to keep Rently informed as early as possible.
You may also be asked to provide supporting documents to help Rently understand your situation. These may include documents such as:
your lease termination notice
written communication with your landlord or agent
any mutual agreement to end the tenancy early
documents explaining the reason for early termination, where relevant
Providing clear documentation can help Rently review your case and advise you on the next steps.
2. Your outstanding balance must be settled within 7 calendar days
If your lease ends early while you are using Rently’s deposit advance service, the outstanding balance owed to Rently must be settled within 7 calendar days.
This is because Rently has already paid the deposit or approved upfront move-in cost to your landlord on your behalf. The repayment schedule was based on the original lease duration. When the lease ends early, the remaining amount owed to Rently becomes due.
In simple terms: if the tenancy ends earlier than planned, the original repayment schedule can no longer continue as if the lease were still ongoing.
3. What is included in the final outstanding balance?
Your final outstanding balance may include several types of unpaid amounts.
These may include:
unpaid service fees
unpaid deposit balance
late fees, where applicable
any rent disbursed by Rently that has not yet been repaid by the tenant
The exact amount will depend on your account, your payment history, your product terms, and whether any fees or unpaid amounts apply at the time your lease ends.
If you are unsure how the amount is calculated, you should contact Rently and ask for a breakdown of your final settlement amount.
4. You cannot wait for your landlord to return the deposit before repaying Rently
One common misunderstanding is that a tenant can wait for the landlord to return the rental deposit before repaying Rently.
This is not how the service works.
The tenant should first settle the missing deposit payment with Rently. After that, the tenant should claim the deposit back from the landlord according to the Tenancy Agreement and the usual end-of-tenancy process.
This is because Rently is not the deposit holder once the deposit has been paid to the landlord. The deposit return process is between the tenant and the landlord. Any deductions, disputes, or delays in the landlord returning the deposit do not automatically change the tenant’s obligation to repay Rently.
For example, if your landlord later returns the deposit after checking the property, that refund should be handled between you and your landlord. Separately, any amount owed to Rently must still be paid to Rently by the required deadline.
5. What if the landlord deducts from the deposit?
If your landlord deducts money from the deposit for reasons such as repairs, cleaning, unpaid utilities, or other claims under the Tenancy Agreement, that is a matter between you and your landlord.
Rently’s role is separate. Rently paid the deposit or upfront amount to your landlord on your behalf, and your repayment obligation to Rently remains separate from any landlord deductions.
This means that even if your landlord deducts part or all of the deposit, you may still need to settle the outstanding amount owed to Rently.
If you disagree with the landlord’s deduction, you should address that dispute directly with your landlord or through the appropriate tenancy dispute process.
6. What if the lease ends because of a landlord dispute or another difficult situation?
Early lease termination can happen for many reasons. You may need to relocate, your landlord may agree to end the lease early, or there may be a dispute about the property.
Even in difficult situations, you should contact Rently as soon as possible and provide any supporting documents that explain your case.
Rently may review the situation on a case-by-case basis. However, tenants should not assume that a landlord dispute, relocation, or early termination agreement removes the obligation to repay Rently.
7. Can Rently offer an outstanding repayment plan?
If you cannot settle the full outstanding balance within 7 calendar days, you should contact Rently as early as possible.
Rently may review requests for an outstanding repayment plan on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not automatic and will depend on the tenant’s situation, account history, outstanding balance, and other relevant factors.
Where an alternative arrangement is approved, additional fees may apply. The details of any arrangement and applicable fees should be confirmed with Rently before the arrangement begins.
The most important thing is to communicate early. If you know you may have difficulty settling the balance on time, contact Rently before the deadline wherever possible.
8. Can a replacement tenant take over my Rently subscription?
No. A new or replacement tenant cannot simply take over another tenant’s Rently deposit advance service.
Rently’s service is tied to the original approved tenant, the original product approval, and the Tenancy Agreement details provided during the application.
If a new tenant is moving into the property, they would need to apply separately, subject to Rently’s eligibility checks and approval process. The original tenant remains responsible for settling any outstanding amount owed to Rently.
9. Will Rently report me to a credit bureau if I break my lease?
Breaking a lease does not automatically mean that Rently will report you to a credit bureau.
Rently’s priority is generally to communicate with tenants and find suitable arrangements where possible. Credit bureau reporting is rare and is typically not the first step when a tenant is trying to resolve the situation responsibly.
That said, tenants should take outstanding balances seriously. If a tenant defaults on their obligations and does not engage with Rently, further recovery steps may be available to Rently under its terms and privacy notice.
The best way to avoid escalation is to inform Rently early, provide supporting documents, and work towards a clear settlement arrangement.
10. Does Rently charge an early lease termination fee?
Rently does not need to charge a separate early lease termination fee for the outstanding balance to become due.
The key impact of breaking the lease is that any unpaid amount owed to Rently becomes due within 7 calendar days. This may include unpaid service fees, unpaid deposit balance, late fees where applicable, and any Rently-disbursed rent that has not yet been repaid.
If an outstanding repayment plan is requested and approved, additional fees may apply on a case-by-case basis.
11. What should tenants do before breaking a lease in Singapore?
Before ending your lease early, take these steps:
Review your Tenancy Agreement to understand your obligations to your landlord.
Inform your landlord or agent according to the notice requirements in your lease.
Inform Rently immediately once early termination is likely or confirmed.
Prepare supporting documents, such as a lease termination notice or landlord communication.
Ask Rently for your final outstanding balance.
Settle the outstanding balance within 7 calendar days.
Claim your rental deposit back from your landlord through the normal end-of-tenancy process.
Taking these steps early can help reduce confusion, avoid late fees, and make the lease termination process smoother.
12. Key takeaway for tenants using Rently’s deposit advance service
Rently’s deposit advance service is designed to help tenants in Singapore reduce the upfront cost of moving into a home. But because the service is tied to the full tenancy period, breaking the lease early has financial consequences.
If your lease ends early, you should inform Rently immediately, provide supporting documents where available, and settle your outstanding balance within 7 calendar days.
Most importantly, remember that repayment to Rently and deposit recovery from your landlord are two separate steps. You should first return the missing deposit payment to Rently, then claim the deposit back from your landlord according to your Tenancy Agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I break my lease while using Rently?
If your lease ends early, your outstanding balance owed to Rently becomes due within 7 calendar days. You should inform Rently immediately and provide supporting documents where available.
Can I wait for my landlord to return my deposit before repaying Rently?
No. You should first settle the missing deposit payment with Rently, then claim the deposit back from your landlord through the usual end-of-tenancy process.
What is included in my final outstanding balance?
Your final outstanding balance may include unpaid service fees, unpaid deposit balance, late fees where applicable, and any Rently-disbursed rent that has not yet been repaid.
Can I request more time to repay Rently?
You may contact Rently to request an outstanding repayment plan. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and additional fees may apply where an arrangement is approved.
Can another tenant take over my Rently deposit advance service?
No. A replacement tenant cannot take over your Rently subscription. Any new tenant would need to apply separately and be approved by Rently.
Will Rently report me to a credit bureau?
Rently very rarely reports tenants to a credit bureau and generally aims to find arrangements where possible. However, tenants should still engage early and settle outstanding amounts responsibly to avoid escalation.
I’d have Legal review the phrase “Rently very rarely reports tenants to a credit bureau” before publishing, because it is operationally helpful but softer than the formal Privacy Notice wording.