As an owner of a condominium unit, it is important to have a good understanding of your duties, responsibilities, and restrictions. Whether you have purchased the condo unit as a place of residence or as an investment, it is important for you to understand these concepts as a well-maintained property can enhance the value of your property.
This info-pack serves as an introduction to your new roles as an owner:
Info-Pack for Subsidiary Proprietors
Your Roles and Responsibilities
1. Maintain the quality and value of your estate
Being a unit owner means that you have a duty to actively participate, and maintain the quality and value of your whole estate, not just your individual unit.
This is done by means of:
- Attending general meetings and voting on resolutions;
- Paying contributions; and
- Considerate usage of your unit and common property.
|
2. Complying with all by-laws
By-laws are voted on during general meetings. Even if you were not present to vote on the by-laws, you will be required to follow them once enacted by the Management Corporation.
If you are concerned about the validity or appropriateness of the management corporation's by-laws, you may raise it for discussion at the next general meeting or apply to the Strata Titles Boards (STB) for a resolution.
|
3. Maintain your unit
As a unit owner, it is your duty to maintain your unit, including fixtures such as external openable windows and pipes that are exclusively used by you.
If you fail to maintain these features of your unit and someone is injured or property is damaged because of these features, you can be made liable for compensation.
You may check with the Management Corporation or managing agent (if any) on the features that come under your charge and responsibility.
|
4. Pay your maintenance fees
To enjoy well-maintained facilities, you need to contribute to the maintenance of the common property and facilities. It is vital that your MCST budgets and collects adequate funds for both regular and future maintenance of the estate.
For example: Common property such as lifts might require more maintenance as they age in order to continue performing reliably. They may also need to be modernized from time to time to upgrade their parts and safety features. As part of the MCST, you should ensure that sinking funds are collected regularly and adequately for the upkeep of such essential facilities.
|
Property Works and Limitations
Defects Liability Period
The Defects Liability Period (DLP) refers to the period of time where you need to report defects or issues arising from workmanship or defective material to developers as it is their obligation to resolve these issues under the Sales and Purchase (S&P) agreement. Developers are obliged to rectify valid defects reported during DLP that remains unresolved beyond DLP. The S&P agreement should state what constitutes a defect that the developer will be responsible for.
Once the DLP has passed, you will be responsible for the condition of your property. Thus, should there be any issues, you will have to engage your own contractor and bear the cost of the repairs.
Restrictions
1. Restrictions on alteration works
A. Within your unit
There are restrictions on the hacking or additional works you are permitted to carry out in your unit. Structural elements such as slabs, beams, columns, and walls shall not be altered without proper assessment by a Professional Engineer and approval from the Commissioner of Building Control.
You should also check with the developer or the Management Corporation (MC) and the Sale and Purchase Agreement (S&PA) regarding any restrictions on renovation prior to carrying out the works.
B. Common Property
It is important for you to be aware of what constitutes common property. You cannot, without approval from the Management Corporation (MC), alter or make changes to common property (e.g. install additional awning in a common property wall).
C. External building features
You are not allowed to make any alterations to features fixed on the external building such as external windows and external walls, without approvals from the Management Corporation (MC) and any relevant government agencies. Any additions to your unit which may affect the appearance of any building in the estate e.g. addition of private enclosed space awnings or coverings, grilles or blinds in balconies, requires the MC's permission and agreement.
2. Restrictions on improvement works that require the Management Corporation's (MC's) approval
If you intend to carry out works on your unit that may result in an increase in the total gross floor area (GFA) of the entire estate, you will need to obtain a 90% resolution from the Management Corporation (MC).
Examples of such works include roofing a private enclosed space and putting a slab over a void in a unit. Depending on the type of work done, you may also be required to obtain approvals of other approving authorities like Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
Dealing with Disputes
In a densely built-up environment, it is important to play a part in making our living environment more pleasant for all by being good neighbours. Tolerance, mutual understanding, and communication can help us achieve this. However, occasional personal conflicts may still arise. In cases of neighbourly disputes, all affairs and disputes between you and your neighbour or management council are considered private affairs. As a unit owner (i.e. subsidiary proprietor ‘SP’), you will have to manage neighbourly disputes and conflicts privately.
If you are unable to privately resolve disputes or arguments with the involved parties, you should seek mediation channels to settle the disputes or apply to the Strata Titles Boards (STB) for resolution. Government agencies are generally not empowered to compel the actions of individuals in these private matters.