District 6, encompassing City Hall, Clarke Quay, Beach Road, and High Street, recorded the highest median rent for 3-bedroom non-landed homes at $10,950 (S$15,000) per month in the third quarter of 2025. This figure places it ahead of other districts, with District 1 (Boat Quay/Marina/Raffles Place) following at $6,205 (S$8,500) and District 4 (Harbourfront/Telok Blangah) at $6,055 (S$8,300).
The rental market for non-landed properties saw varied changes across different unit sizes. Whilst rents for 3-bedroom units increased by 3% year-on-year, 5-bedroom units experienced a decline of 2.3%. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the rental increase was more modest, with a 1.1% rise overall. Notably, 5-bedroom units saw the largest quarterly increase at 4.2%.
The rise in rents is attributed to seasonal factors, such as the start of the academic year for international schools, and the completion of 1,776 new private residential units. These new units, equipped with modern facilities, have attracted tenants willing to pay a premium for the “newness” factor.
Looking ahead, Alan Cheong, Executive Director of Research & Consultancy at Savills Singapore, noted, “For 2026, although there will be more new completions, which has often contributed to lifting rents due to the premium from the ‘newness’ factor, this may be offset by the challenging business conditions. Overall, rents are expected to stay sideways.”
Despite a 2.4% increase in the URA rental index year-to-date, the forecast for private residential rents in 2025 is expected to remain flat, with only minor deviations anticipated.
