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Rent Now Brunei @ 2025
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6 January 2026 • RentNowBrunei
Most people know to check the number of rooms, the location, and the monthly rent. But there's a whole list of things that often get overlooked during a viewing, things that only become a problem after you've already moved in and signed the lease. Here are five less-known tips that every renter in Brunei should know before committing to a place.
"Maintenance included" sounds reassuring, but it's one of the most misunderstood phrases in a rental agreement. A lot of landlords use it to mean they'll handle small things like changing a lightbulb or fixing a leaky tap, but when it comes to bigger items like a broken water pump, a faulty air conditioner, or electrical issues, suddenly it becomes a grey area.
Before you sign, ask the landlord directly: what exactly is covered, and what falls on you as the tenant? Get specific. If the air conditioner breaks down, who calls the technician and who pays the bill? If the water heater gives out, what's the process? Having this conversation upfront, and ideally getting the answers in writing as part of the lease, can save you a significant amount of money and frustration down the road.
If the landlord is vague or avoids answering, that's worth noting. A clear landlord will have no problem spelling out what they cover.
This is one of the most commonly skipped steps during a property viewing, and one of the most useful. Low water pressure sounds like a minor inconvenience until you're standing under a trickle every morning trying to shower before work.
When you visit a property, take a few minutes to actually test the taps in the kitchen, the showers in every bathroom, and flush the toilets. Check if the pressure feels consistent or if it drops noticeably. It's a simple check that takes less than five minutes, but it tells you a lot about the condition of the plumbing and can help you avoid an issue that's genuinely uncomfortable to live with.
Some landlords are flexible and happy for you to make the space feel like home. Others have strict rules about what you can and can't do to the property. The problem is, most tenants only find out which type of landlord they have after they've already put a nail in the wall or repainted a bedroom.
Before you move in, ask whether you're allowed to paint the walls, hang things up, change the curtains, or make any small modifications. Some landlords are fine with it as long as you restore things before moving out. Others will charge you for any changes at all. Knowing this upfront lets you decide whether the property suits your lifestyle, and avoids any awkward conversations or deductions from your deposit later.
Water and electricity are easy to overlook when you're focused on the rent figure, but they can add up to a meaningful chunk of your monthly expenses. The setup varies quite a bit from one property to another in Brunei. Some rentals include utilities in the rent, some bill you separately based on actual usage, and some use a flat additional fee on top of rent.
Ask the landlord directly how water and electricity are handled. If they're billed separately, ask if you'll have access to the utility meters so you can track your own usage. It's also worth asking whether the meters are shared with other units or individual to your property, as shared meters can sometimes lead to disputes over bills.
A separate utility meter that's solely for your unit is always the cleanest arrangement. If meters are shared, make sure the billing method is clearly agreed on before you move in.
This is probably the most important thing on this list, and most renters only wish they had done it after it's too late. On the day you collect your keys, before you move a single box in, walk through every room and photograph everything. Walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, fixtures, any existing cracks, stains, or damage.
This photo record is your best protection when the time comes to get your deposit back. Without it, it's your word against the landlord's when it comes to whether a scratch was already there or happened during your tenancy. With it, you have clear, timestamped evidence of the condition of the property when you moved in. It takes maybe fifteen minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars.
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Return to Blogs
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RentNowBrunei • 6 January 2026Beyond the basics, there are a few things most renters never think to check until it's too late. Here's what to look out for before you sign anything.
