Who This Residence Suits (and Who It Doesn’t)
Room in a 3 Bedroom Apartment, 32 Penhas Road is a shared apartment located in the Lavender / Jalan Besar area of Singapore, about a 15‑minute walk from Lavender MRT station. The property is a non‑ensuite room within a three‑bedroom unit, and it also appears under the “independent house” category on the listing. Based on the available data, this residence works well for certain types of tenants and less so for others.
Suits:
- Students who prefer a quieter, more self‑sufficient lifestyle. One Google reviewer described the environment as “cozy” and “very calm and quiet with all the facilities.” Another noted the property is “close to her University,” which suggests reasonable proximity to campuses such as Singapore Management University (city campus) and potentially NUS or NTU via public transport.
- Tenants who are comfortable with a longer minimum lease of three months. This is typical for student accommodation but less flexible than monthly‑to‑monthly arrangements.
- People who do not need an ensuite bathroom. The unit types listed include “non_ensuite,” meaning the bathroom is shared among the three housemates.
- Residents who appreciate built‑in laundry facilities and fibre broadband (both tagged as amenities).
- International students who like communal celebrations: the review by Rutuja Prabhune mentions “Chinese New Year, Christmas celebrations etc.” organised by the building management, making it easier to socialise.
Does not suit:
- Anyone looking for a fully furnished, move‑in ready room with linens and kitchen basics. Reviewer Ian Chan explicitly states: “everything need to prepared by yourself including the blanket” and that you also need to pay for washing machine and dryer usage and clean your own bed sheets. This means you should budget for bedding, towels, kitchen utensils, and perhaps a small fan or portable appliance.
- Those who rely on air‑conditioned common areas or outdoor gym equipment. Ian Chan’s review notes that the outdoor gym was hot and the fan was broken during his stay. While this may have been a temporary issue, it indicates maintenance can be inconsistent.
- People who want a low upfront cost. The monthly rent range is SGD 1,100–1,900, which is on the higher end for a shared room in Singapore (see price positioning below). You also need to cover utilities (likely not included) and possibly a deposit (not specified in the data — confirm with the operator).
- Short‑term visitors who need less than a three‑month lease. The minimum lease is three months, so a semester exchange of 4–5 months is fine, but a 2‑month internship would not qualify.
What Residents Actually Say
Three Google reviews (total 52 reviews, average rating 4.5 stars) provide a mixed but generally positive picture. Here they are verbatim, with the original ratings:
- Ian Chan (3 / 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 (5 / 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 (5 / 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.”
The takeaway: the property earns high marks for location, quietness, and social atmosphere, but at least one resident found the hidden costs (linens, laundry) and maintenance issues (outdoor gym fan) disappointing. The 4.5‑star average across 52 reviews suggests most experiences are positive.
Price Positioning vs the City’s From-Price
The city of Singapore has a advertised from‑price of SGD 207 for student accommodation on this platform (indicative — confirm with the operator). However, that figure likely refers to a weekly rate for a very basic room or a far‑out location. The subject property is priced SGD 1,100–1,900 per month, which is roughly SGD 275–475 per week (using a four‑week month for ballpark comparison — actual weekly rate may differ).
- The lower bound (SGD 1,100/month) is about 1.3 times the typical weekly from‑price (if the from‑price is weekly), meaning the cheapest room here sits slightly above the absolute entry level.
- The upper bound (SGD 1,900/month) is comparatively high for a shared non‑ensuite room. In the Lavender area, you can often find whole studios or master rooms at that price. The higher end of the range likely corresponds to a larger or better‑facing room in the unit.
Given the relatively high price, the value proposition depends on the exact room you are offered and whether you value the quiet, well‑located neighbourhood and on‑site celebrations. For budget‑conscious students, the SGD 1,100 option may be reasonable, but the SGD 1,900 option should be compared against other nearby properties before committing.
Important: All prices are indicative — confirm with the operator at the time of booking, as rates may change.
Room-Type Guidance
The listing includes three unit types: non_ensuite, 1b, and independent_house.
- Non_ensuite means you share the bathroom with the other two flatmates. This is the default setup.
- 1b likely refers to a one‑bedroom unit within the building, but the listing title says “Room in a 3 Bedroom Apartment,” so the “1b” tag may indicate the property is also available as a self‑contained studio or one‑bedder elsewhere in the same development. If you are booking the room advertised, confirm with the operator whether it is the shared non‑ensuite or the 1b option.
- Independent_house suggests the apartment functions like a private flat, not a managed dormitory. You will share the kitchen, living area, and possibly the washing machine.
Because the room is part of a three‑bedroom apartment, you will have two other housemates. The gender mix is not specified — ask the operator if you have a preference. The unit comes with laundry facilities and fibre broadband, but many other items (bedding, utensils, cleaning supplies) are your responsibility.
Booking Timing
The property is available from 3 July 2026. Given that Singapore’s academic year starts in August (NUS, NTU, SMU) and some programmes begin in January 2027, this availability date works for semester‑one arrivals. The minimum lease is three months, so the earliest end date would be early October 2026, but most academic semesters run longer (4–5 months).
If you need a tenancy starting in August 2026, the July 3 availability means you can move in a few weeks early to settle in. For a January 2027 start, the property would need to be re‑listed later; check availability closer to the time. Because the property has 52 Google reviews and a 4.5‑star rating, it is relatively popular — early booking (at least 2–3 months ahead) is advisable, especially for the cheaper rooms in the SGD 1,100 range.
Note: The price range (SGD 1,100–1,900) suggests different rooms within the same apartment or floor. If you want the lower rate, request the smallest or least‑favoured room. The higher rate likely means a bigger room, possibly with a window facing a quieter street. Confirm the exact rent and room size with the operator before paying any deposit.
FAQ
H3: What is included in the rent, and what do I need to buy myself?
Based on the tags, the apartment provides a laundry facility (washing machine and dryer) and fibre broadband. The review by Ian Chan clarifies that you need to bring your own blanket, bed sheets, and presumably pillows and towels. You also pay separately for using the washing machine and dryer, and you are expected to clean your own bed sheets. Kitchen utensils, cookware, and other household items are likely not supplied. Confirm the full inventory with the operator.
H3: Is the property close to universities?
The exact distance is not given, but the address is 32 Penhas Road, Singapore 208191. Lavender is within walking distance of Jalan Besar and parts of the city campus of Singapore Management University (about 2 km). For NUS (Kent Ridge) and NTU (Jurong West), you will need to take the MRT or bus — travel times of 30–50 minutes each way are typical. The review from “S S Family First” says it is “close to her University,” which likely refers to one of the city‑based institutions. If you need to be near NUS or NTU main campuses, this location may not be the most convenient.
H3: How long is the booking commitment, and can I extend?
The minimum lease is three months. The property is available from 3 July 2026. There is no data on extension terms, but typical student accommodation allows month‑to‑month extensions after the initial fixed term, subject to availability. You should ask the operator well in advance if you wish to stay beyond the initial lease.
Sources & data date: 2026-07
For live availability and exact pricing, please use the on‑site assistant to check current room options and book directly.
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