A Guide to Student Housing in Singapore for Renters and Landlords

A Guide to Student Housing in Singapore for Renters and Landlords

The Growing Rental Market in Singapore

In the first quarter of 2026, 21,765 private residential rental contracts were signed, and demand has been climbing steadily each quarter. A meaningful share of that demand comes from international and exchange students, drawn to Singapore's top universities, who arrive needing somewhere safe and reliable to live.

For students, this represents a market that can feel overwhelming to navigate for the first time, especially without knowing which listings to trust or who to contact when something goes wrong. For landlords and agents, this represents a real and often overlooked pool of tenants, one that could be difficult to reach through casual listings alone.

What International and Exchange Students Need When Renting for the First Time

Moving to a new country is always exciting, but finding a place to live can be one of the more stressful parts of that process. Many students start by searching for a room for rent near their university without knowing what to look out for or who to trust in Singapore.

A common concern is who you end up living with. Being placed with a randomly assigned housemate could be tricky, especially when there is no way to know in advance whether it is a good fit. WelcomeStay matches students with compatible housemates from the start, and coordinates the move-in process so it feels organised instead of chaotic. Support does not end there either, with cleaning and aircon servicing available for an added peace of mind, so students can focus on settling into their university life.

Another worry is simply not knowing who to turn to when something arises. A leaky tap or a question about where to go for food can feel like a big deal when you are new to a country. Every WelcomeStay listing comes with a Host WelcomeStay knows personally, so students are always a message away from a real answer, in English or Mandarin.

Why Landlords Are Looking for a Better Way to List

Finding reliable tenants in Singapore that landlords can trust is not always straightforward, especially with the endless noise of casual enquiries that do not turn into leads. WelcomeStay works differently from traditional listing portals by connecting landlords and agents directly with verified international and exchange students who are ready to move and actively searching for a room near their university right now.

Listing with WelcomeStay comes with no exclusive requirements, so landlords are free to list elsewhere at the same time. Control stays exactly where it should be, with you. The tenancy agreement and landlord relationship stay fully in your hands. You and your agent decide who moves in and on what terms, while WelcomeStay simply handles the sourcing and screening that brings serious student tenants to you.

Who WelcomeStay Is

WelcomeStay is a curated accommodation platform built specifically for international and exchange students entering Singapore's rental market for the first time, with a focus on finding homes for students near their campus.

For students, this means fewer unknowns. Listings are verified, Hosts are known, and support is available in English and Mandarin from the moment an enquiry is sent, to the day you move in, and beyond. For landlords and agents, it means access to a pipeline of serious, screened student tenants without giving up control over your listings or tenancy terms.

WelcomeStay is not a licensed real estate agent and does not carry out estate agency work such as preparing tenancy agreements. This work stays with landlords and their appointed agents, while WelcomeStay focuses on what it does best, matching the right students to the right rooms.

Ready to List or Ready to Move

Whether you are a student searching for somewhere safe to call home, or a landlord with a room to fill, WelcomeStay is built to make the process simpler for you.

International and exchange students, follow WelcomeStay for the latest listings and updates ahead of the January intake, including new rooms near your campus as soon as they become available.

Landlords and agents, reach out to WelcomeStay today to list your unit and find out more about how it works, with a pipeline of serious, screened student tenants waiting to hear from you.

Singapore is a huge step for any student, and a big step for any landlord. WelcomeStay is here to make both sides of that step feel a little more certain.