Who This Residence Suits (and Who Should Look Elsewhere)
The Room in a 5 Bedroom Apartment, 551B Bukit Timah Road is a shared student housing option located in the central region of Singapore. Based on verified reviews and property details, it works well for certain profiles while being less ideal for others.
Suits:
- Students who value a social, multi-cultural living environment. Multiple reviews highlight the opportunity to make friends from different cultures. The property also organises celebrations for events such as Chinese New Year and Christmas, which can help international students feel at home.
- Those who prefer a quiet and calm atmosphere. A parent reviewer noted that the residence is “very calm and quiet with all the facilities.”
- University students whose campus is nearby. One review mentions that the location is close to the university. The property sits along Bukit Timah Road, a major thoroughfare that gives access to several tertiary institutions including the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), though exact distances should be checked.
- Residents comfortable with a do-it-yourself setup. The apartment requires tenants to bring or purchase their own bedding (blanket, sheets) and handle their own laundry. This suits independent students who do not mind a slightly lower level of service.
May not suit:
- Students expecting an all-inclusive, high-service experience. One reviewer noted that “everything need to be prepared by yourself including the blanket” and that separate charges apply for washing machine and dryer use. The rent is described as “not cheap” for the level of amenities provided.
- Those who rely heavily on air-conditioning or cooling. The same reviewer mentioned an outdoor gym where “the fan were broken.” While the review does not specify indoor cooling, the lack of mention suggests that air-conditioning may not be included in all rooms.
- Students on a very tight budget. The city-wide indicative from-price for student housing in Singapore is SGD 207 per month (indicative — confirm with the operator). This property’s actual rent is not disclosed in the data, but based on the review stating “the rent is not cheap,” it likely sits above that baseline.
- Anyone requiring an ensuite bathroom. The unit type is listed as “non-ensuite” and “independent house”, meaning the bathroom is shared among the five bedrooms. This is standard for many shared apartments, but not suitable for those who want private facilities.
What Residents Actually Say (Verbatim Reviews)
Three reviews were available at the time of this writing. They come from Google (aggregate rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 52 reviews). Below are the exact texts:
Ian Chan (Rating: 3 of 5)
“Have a really cozy environment nearby. The rent is not cheap, but everything need to prepared by yourself including the blanket. Also need to pay for the washing machine and dryer and clean the bed sheet yourself. Outdoor gym is so hot and the fan were broken. (Half year staying experience.)”
Rutuja Prabhune (Rating: 5 of 5)
“I came at campus by the assembly place in May 2025. And it was great living here. Nice place to live, enjoy and study. Making New Friends from different cultures. Also Accomodations has celebration such as Chinese New Year, Christmas celebrations etc. Campus by the assembly place feels like home far away from your home”
S S Family First (Rating: 5 of 5)
“Nice place for students, very calm and quiet with all the facilities. Our daughter is staying here and finds it very convenient. It is close to her University.”
Key takeaways from the reviews:
- The atmosphere is described as both “cozy” and “calm” — a balance that is not always easy to find in shared housing.
- Culture and community events are a real plus, helping students feel integrated.
- The DIY model (bring own bedding, pay for laundry) may reduce upfront costs but adds recurring expenses and chores.
- The outdoor gym appears to have maintenance issues, which could be a concern if you plan to use it.
- Location-wise, it works well for those whose university is nearby, but the exact proximity to different campuses is not specified.
Price Positioning vs the City’s From-Price
Singapore’s student housing market has a wide price range. The city’s indicative from-price — the lowest monthly rent found across all properties in the platform’s inventory — is SGD 207 per month (indicative — confirm with the operator). This base figure typically represents a room in a very basic hostel or a shared room in a less central location.
The property at 551B Bukit Timah Road does not have a listed minimum or maximum price in the provided data, so a direct comparison is not possible. However, based on the review that states “the rent is not cheap,” it is reasonable to infer that the monthly rent here is higher than the city’s from-price, possibly by a significant margin. For context, a typical mid-range shared room in a private apartment along Bukit Timah can cost between SGD 800 and SGD 1,200 per month, though this is not official data from the platform.
Important: All prices mentioned here are indicative and must be confirmed directly with the property operator. The data used for this article is current as of July 2026.
Room-Type Guidance: What to Expect
The unit is described as a 5-bedroom apartment (non-ensuite, independent house). Here is what that means in practical terms:
- Bedroom: You will get a single room within a shared apartment. The room is furnished but does not include linens (bedding, towels). Expect a bed, desk, chair, and wardrobe in most cases, but confirm with the operator.
- Bathroom: Shared among all five occupants. The number of bathrooms is not specified; typical Singaporean HDB or condo apartments of this size have 2–3 bathrooms. Check the exact configuration.
- Kitchen & Living: The apartment likely has a common kitchen and living area. Reviewers mention laundry facilities, so a washing machine and dryer are present, but usage may require payment (coins or app).
- Other facilities: WiFi is included in the tags. The outdoor gym mentioned in a review is on-site, but the fan was reported broken at the time of that review.
- Lease & Availability: Minimum lease is 3 months, and the property becomes available from 3 July 2026. This is suitable for semester-based students who need a medium-term stay.
Advice for choosing this room: If you are comfortable sharing a bathroom with four other people and bringing your own bedding, this is a viable option. If you want an ensuite room or a fully serviced apartment, look at studios or purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
Booking Timing: When to Act
The property is listed as available from 3 July 2026. The minimum lease is 3 months, so the earliest move-in date is that day. If you are a student starting your academic year in August or September 2026, this timeline works well.
Given that the property has a Google rating of 4.5 from 52 reviews and that Singapore’s student housing market is competitive (129 properties in the platform’s inventory with an average city from-price of SGD 207), desirable units in good locations tend to get booked quickly. It is advisable to:
- Confirm availability early — ideally 2–3 months before your intended move-in date (i.e., by April or May 2026 for a July move-in).
- Check if the operator holds viewings — either virtual or in-person.
- Read the full tenancy agreement — pay attention to deposit terms, utility charges, and rules about guests.
Because the exact rent is not listed in the dataset, you will need to contact the operator for a quote. The review that says “the rent is not cheap” suggests it may be above the city average, so budget accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WiFi included in the rent?
Yes, the property tags include “wifi,” indicating that internet access is provided as part of the tenancy. However, the quality and speed are not specified in the reviews. If you have specific requirements (e.g., for video streaming or online classes), it is best to ask the operator about the internet plan.
Do I need to pay extra for laundry?
One reviewer explicitly states: “Also need to pay for the washing machine and dryer.” This suggests that using the laundry facilities involves an additional cost, possibly per load. Confirm the exact fee structure with the operator before signing.
Can I move in before the listed available date (3 July 2026)?
The data shows the property is available from 3 July 2026. If you need to move in earlier, this unit may not be suitable. Check the operator’s calendar for any earlier release, or consider other properties that are available from June or earlier. The platform’s inventory in Singapore includes 129 properties, so alternatives exist.
Sources & data date: July 2026. All price figures are indicative and should be confirmed with the property operator. Reviews are quoted verbatim from Google (platform review data).
For real-time availability and to check current pricing for this room or similar options, use the on-site assistant on the housing platform.
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