Rental demand is not only about how much a unit can rent for. It is also about how often tenants are actually signing leases in an area. A district with a high number of rental transactions usually has a more active tenant market, which can matter for landlords, renters, and agents trying to read market movement more clearly.
Based on the latest transaction dataset by REA real-time database, the top 5 districts with highest condo rental demand over the past 12 months are D09, D10, D15, D19, and D14. Together, these five districts account for about 41% of the recorded rental transactions in Singapore. This shows that rental activity is concentrated across a mix of prime central districts, lifestyle neighbourhoods, and large residential areas with strong tenant pools.
What Rental Transactions Tell Us
Rental transaction volume shows where tenants are actively moving, renewing, or signing new leases. It does not tell us whether a district is cheap or expensive. Instead, it gives a clearer view of market activity.
A high transaction count can point to several things: more rental stock, stronger tenant demand, a larger pool of expats or local renters, better location convenience, or a district where leases turn over more frequently. For landlords, this can suggest deeper demand. For renters, it can mean more choices, but also more competition for well-priced units.
The Top 5 Condo Rental Demand Districts
The five districts with the highest recorded condo rental transactions are:
- D09 - Cairnhill, Killiney, Leonie Hill, Orchard, Oxley: approx 12,000 transactions, about 1,000 per month
- D10 - Balmoral, Bukit Timah, Holland, Orchard Boulevard, River Valley, Tanglin: approx 10,600+ transactions, about 880 per month
- D15 - Katong, Marine Parade, Siglap, Tanjong Rhu: 9,400+ transactions, about 790 per month
- D19 - Hougang, Punggol, Sengkang: 9,200+ transactions, about 770 per month
- D14 - Eunos, Geylang, Kembangan, Paya Lebar: 7,100 transactions, about 592 per month
Why D09 and D10 Continue to See Strong Rental Activity
Source: real-agent.ai Listing Portal
D09 and D10 are not surprising leaders. These are established rental districts with strong access to Orchard, River Valley, Tanglin, Holland, Bukit Timah, and nearby central areas.
The key point is that high rent does not necessarily reduce activity when the tenant pool is deep enough. D09 recorded an average transacted rent of S$6,710, while D10 recorded S$7,630. Even at higher rent prices, these districts continue to attract tenants who value central access, lifestyle convenience, schools, offices, and established neighbourhood appeal.
For landlords, this suggests that prime districts can still support rental activity when the unit is priced realistically against nearby comparables. For renters, it means central convenience often comes with stronger competition and less room for negotiation on well-positioned units.
What D15 and D19 Show About Lifestyle and Residential Demand
Source: real-agent.ai Listing Portal
D15 and D19 show that rental demand is not limited to the central region. D15 is more about lifestyle and city-fringe driven. D19 may appeal more to households looking for space, newer estates, and value compared with prime central locations.
D15, covering Katong, Marine Parade, Siglap and Tanjong Rhu, combines lifestyle appeal with access to the East Coast, city-fringe connectivity, schools, cafes, and mature amenities. Its average transacted rent of S$5,070 is lower than D09 and D10, but the district still records one of the highest transaction volumes.
On the other hand, D19, covering Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang, recorded 9,251 transactions with an average rent of S$3,700. This suggests a broad rental base, likely supported by larger residential estates, family-sized units, and tenants looking for more space at a relatively more accessible rent level.
Why D14 Matters for City-Fringe Renters
D14, covering Eunos, Geylang, Kembangan and Paya Lebar, recorded 7,109 transactions, or about 592 per month. Its average transacted rent was S$3,740, with an average rent PSF of S$5.20.
This points to steady city-fringe demand. D14 gives renters access to transport links, food options, daily amenities, and relatively convenient routes into the city.
How Insights on Rental Demand Can Help Landlords
If your property is in a high-transaction district, the main opportunity is not to push rent blindly. The more useful step is to benchmark carefully.
Look at recent transactions for similar unit types, nearby projects, unit size, furnishing condition, floor level, and distance to MRT. A high-demand district can help bring enquiries, but tenants will still compare your unit against nearby alternatives.
If your asking rent is too far above comparable units, demand may not convert into a signed lease. Tools like RealValue Instant Property Valuation could come in handy when pricing your rental.
How Insights on Rental Demand Can Help Renters
For renters, high transaction volume means the area is active. That can be good and bad.
The good: there may be more available units and more project variety. The trade-off: popular districts can move quickly, especially for units that are well-priced, well-located, or newly renovated.
Before committing, compare the average rent, rent PSF, unit size, commute time, and nearby alternatives. A district with many transactions does not automatically mean every unit is good value. It simply means the area has an active rental market. Additionally, you can use free property valuation tools on the market to check whether the price is reasonable.
