The attraction of British Colonial black and white Bungalows

Colonial bungalows – the legacy left behind by the British. Now owned by the Singapore Land Authority, they are however available for rent. Starting from $6000/month, they are the property favourites of expatriates and professional executives. Why do they favor these particular property types? And how do you go about renting one? 

Expatriates have fallen hard for Singapore’s famous black and whites, with about 70 per cent of the stately bungalows owned by the Government rented out to foreigners. They have become a popular pick among executives and professionals looking for something different amid the high-rise life here.

Singapore Land Authority (SLA), which handles rentals, has almost 500 of the homes available for lease. They are allocated through a tender process. Like other state properties, they have an average lease of two years, though many tenants opt to extend their terms.

RealStar Premier Group managing director William Wong owns property around Singapore but has lived with his family in a single-storey black and white in Seletar’s Piccadilly Circus neighbourhood for almost 41/2 years. ‘It’s like a ‘little England’, with some of my neighbours having tree houses in their gardens. The house is very near to nature and there’s a lot of space. When I saw these houses, I thought they’d be a great place for my kids to run around and play,’ he said. The rents can be surprisingly afford-able as well, with Mr Wong noting that leases on black and white homes ‘in this neighbourhood range from $6,000 to $7,000 a month; it’s very attractive. Normal landed homes of a similar size can cost up to $20,000 a month’. The SLA said rents depend on location and prevailing market conditions, but bargains can be had by those eyeing less centrally located properties.

Last month, a black and white bungalow in Seletar with a land area of 2,260 sq ft was leased for $3,571, or $1.58 per square foot (psf) per month. A normal semi-detached 3,200 sq ft home in the same area is offered for a rent of $7,500, or $2.34 psf per month. But people expecting to snag a black and white in more central areas like Nassim Road or Orange Grove Road should be prepared to pay a premium.
A two-storey example at 10A Goodwood Hill near Orchard Road has a guide rent of $20,000 a month, which is at the higher end of the price spectrum. Tenders for that house ended yesterday and it is likely the final rent will be even higher. A recently leased black-and-white in Winchester Road in the Alexandra neighbourhood had a $14,000 guide rent but attracted a top offer of $18,500 a month.
 
The homes are characterised by their black and white finishings, spacious grounds and colonial ambience. They were built by the British from the late 19th century to before World War II, to house military officers, High Court judges and other members of the colonial society’s great and good.
Black-and-white properties, which can be found in areas like Bukit Timah, Alexandra Park, Orange Grove Road and Seletar Road, are regularly made available for rent, with details listed on the State Property Information Online website at www.spio.sla.gov.sg