Dude,

You sure your friends are giving you the correct information or not?
You keep saying your friends tell you XXX, recruitment agencies tell you YYY. And you come in here looking for someone to agree with you. Of course those graduated from NUS will stand a better chance but I disagree with the employers doesn't care what their majors are.

They are so many negativities in your posts about Singapore and its employers, I am not sure why you bother to come here at all?

Just curious, even with an agent and a contract, don't think it would help much?
It's a norm here apparently, my previous landlord only pay us back half of our 1 month deposit. Got a friend who rented a whole unit, paid the last month rental and the landlord went MIA, deposit burnt.
They love money much more than we do, apparently.

I understand the contract is legally binding. I didn't get back half of my deposit because of silly reason like they don't think it's justifiable. Yes, I couldn't do jackshite but let it passed.

Mind if I ask where you report such cases? HDB will not entertain, the police will not entertain. Not within their jurisdiction. The only thing with a contract is go to the lawyer which will be time consuming and expensive. My question remains how capable of 'agents' in recovering deposit.

Few pointers noted from your post. Will move out right after contract ends.
Another thing, since we paid in cash, do you need any other evidence of not receiving your deposit if it happens?

FYI, she requested S$200 deposit for fitting and fixtures in case we broke anything on top of the 1-month deposit. We got this back cause didn't spoil/break anything.

The story started when she told us she would like to have us vacant the place in 2 months time... then we gave her 1-month notice instead, she accepted our notice and agreed to return all our deposits right then and there. Then the week when we were scheduled to move out, she told us she feels so rugi to return us the deposit because the money is rightfully hers since she only wants us to move out in 2 months time- the dateline dictated by her. And it's not right to give it back to us even we gave 1-month notice.

I've checked with my friends on the spot(police will not entertain), he said my money is colder than water. And I just want to GET OUT for good.


Nope, anyway my current landlord is shitty too.
And this agent never issued us any receipts and introduced a shite place (his friend). Super calculative, told us to help her save her electricity and water bill. Driving you up the wall with her incessant nagging and bullshit.


Agent was with us, he never issued me any receipt.
The landlord never gives us any receipt which I find it 'uncomfortable'. Anyway, I will try to ask if it's okay for her to offset the deposit with my last month rent. Fingers crossed it's possible!

Yes, true.
The other day, one guy was calling the police to report cars that were illegally parked.

Possible.
Now shortage in retails-related jobs, you can try.

So, you're that type waiting for opportunities or jobs delivered to your doorsteps, eh?

Jobs portals, newspapers. Got introduction or not, still need to pass interview right?

Learning something new is always beneficial in one way or another. The JLPT consists of 5 levels, it will probably take you few years to complete N2- which is the basic requirement some companies look to hire.