The first week in a new home is the difference between “I’m renting a room” and “I live here.” Whether you’re moving into one of our houses or any other Singapore co-living, here’s the practical playbook our residents say they wish they’d had on day one.
Day 1 — arrival and the easy admin
You’ll be handed your key — or, in our houses, your smart-lock PIN — together with the Wi-Fi password and a welcome note. Before you do anything else, do these three things:
- Test the Wi-Fi from your room — the corner of the bed is the worst case for signal.
- Find the kitchen, the bin chute, the laundry, and the fire exit.
- Snap a five-minute photo walk of the room: the existing wear-and-tear, the inside of the wardrobe, the appliances. This protects you on move-out.
Day 2 — SingPass, address, and bills you don’t actually have
Singapore is the rare country where you don’t need to register your address with the police, but you do need to update it on SingPass and on your IC if you’re a citizen or PR. For an Employment Pass or Student Pass, update via MyICA or the relevant portal within the stipulated period. Utilities are bundled into your Coliva rent, so there’s no SP Group account to set up — one fewer task on the list.
Day 3 — meet your housemates properly
The single best predictor of a happy co-living stay is whether you actually know the people you live with by name. Aim for one short conversation with each housemate in the first week — cooking, laundry queueing or a shared coffee run all work. If your house has a WhatsApp group, introduce yourself there too.
Day 4 — do the neighbourhood walk
Block out 90 minutes for a slow walk around your neighbourhood and find these five things:
- Your nearest MRT entrance and which exit to use.
- A 24-hour or late-night supermarket — FairPrice, Cold Storage or Sheng Siong.
- The closest hawker centre — ideally under 10 minutes’ walk.
- A park or green space — especially important if you’ve brought a dog.
- One coffee shop you actually want to sit and work in.
If you’re in our Rowell Road houses, our Jalan Besar guide maps these for you. In Springside View, see the Springleaf guide.
Day 5 — set up the boring-but-vital household stuff
- Buy a power strip if your room has only one outlet near the desk.
- Note where the cleaner’s schedule is posted — in our houses, common areas are cleaned bi-weekly; rooms are your responsibility.
- Label one shelf in the fridge and pantry as yours.
- If you’ve brought a pet, do a calm crate-and-leash walk of the house perimeter so they map the new home before guests arrive.
Day 6 — first big grocery run
Co-living kitchens work better when nobody hoards. Buy basics for two to three days at a time, label your fresh items, and ask the group what condiments are shared (most houses share oil, salt, soy sauce). It’s a small thing that signals you’re in for the long haul.
Day 7 — reflect, don’t bolt
The first week is also the week most new co-livers second-guess the move. Before you let small frictions snowball, write down what worked and what didn’t, then bring two or three real items to your house manager. In Coliva houses, that’s us — reach out anytime via the contact page or WhatsApp.
Want help picking the right house?
If you haven’t signed yet, browse all available rooms — or read the Singapore pet-rental rules guide if you’re moving with a dog or cat.