What to know as a Condo Owner

For example, if the share value of your unit is represented by the figure 5/350, it means that 350 represents the total share value of all the units in the estate, and 5 is the share value allotted to your unit.

The share value of your unit represents:

• The amount of contributions you have to pay to the Management Corporation (MC) for the running and maintenance of common areas in the estate.
• Your voting rights at meetings. The higher your share value, the more voting rights you have.
• The share of common property that you own, which is jointly owned by all other unit owners (i.e. subsidiary proprietors ‘SPs’) in the estate.

Even if you are not a council member, you may also attend council meetings. However, if you wish to raise any issues at the council meeting, you must first seek the permission of the council to do so. These meetings may also provide unit owners (i.e. subsidiary proprietors ‘SPs’) a platform to facilitate the resolution of disputes on neighbourly or estate matters through discussion or mediation.

For more details on meetings, please see SMG3: Preparation for a General Meeting and SMG4: Proceedings of a General Meeting.

This form, together with a power of attorney, must be deposited at the registered address of the Management Corporation (MC) at least 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting. Do be mindful that there are limits on the number of persons a proxy can represent.

For more details on meetings, please see SMG3: Preparation for a General Meeting and SMG4: Proceedings of a General Meeting.

You may also inspect the following records of the Management Corporation (MC):

• Minutes of general meetings of the Management Corporation (MC) and the management council;
• Books of account; and
• Other records or documents under the custody of the Management Corporation (MC).

It is important for you to be aware of what constitutes common property. You cannot, without permission from the Management Corporation (MC), alter or make changes to common property (e.g. install additional awning in a common property wall) without obtaining the Management Corporation’s (MC’s) approval.

The areas that are considered common property can be identified on the strata title plan, which demarcates areas that fall within and outside of a unit. In general, areas outside strata lots that may be used by 2 or more unit owner (i.e. subsidiary proprietor ‘SP’) or occupiers (e.g. tenants) are common property. You may obtain a copy of the strata title plan from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for a fee.

Common property typically includes swimming pools, gyms, lift lobbies, corridors, carparks, lifts in common areas, playgrounds, gardens, drop-off points, exterior building walls, etc. For a more detailed list, you may refer to Section 2 of the BMSMA.

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.

If you intend to carry out any improvements or 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, etc., you should first consult your Management Corporation (MC) to confirm if their permission and agreement are required before carrying out the works in your unit.

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 the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

For more information on the various types of resolutions in a meeting, please see SMG4: Proceedings of a General Meeting.