After three rounds of public consultation over five years, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has come up with a set of 57 proposed changes (Stricter controls on MCSTs proposed to beef up governance; Aug 2). I had offered suggestions to the National Development and Law ministries in 2011 and hoped that the BCA and […]
Singapore: Can strata board charge lower fee?
Disputes are an inevitable occurrence over the course of strata living in Singapore (Condos, owners tussle over fixtures; June 13). The dispute resolution mechanisms available to condominium residents, however, are decidedly inadequate. Residents of HDB flats have the option to refer cases to their local town council before undertaking mediation by grassroots leaders or MPs, […]
Singapore: Condo unit owner fails in bid to end ‘noise’ from pool pumps
For over two years, a condo unit owner tried to get his estate’s management corporation (MC) to resolve the noise from a swimming pool pump system, which his occupier had found “unbearable”. The unit is located below the rooftop pool at Luma, a 27-storey development in River Valley Grove. The MC tried everything, from hiring […]
South Africa: Big fight between Telkom and Vodacom could leave residents without fibre
Telkom has won what it calls a “landmark” court case against Vodacom regarding the use of its infrastructure. The case was resolved in the Western Cape High Court on 26 July, following an urgent application brought against Vodacom by Telkom. The application related to Vodacom’s “unlawful use of its infrastructure in the Dennegeur Residential Estate”. […]
Thailand: Phuket court dismisses public fraud charge against Ace Condo employee
The Phuket Provincial Court dismissed a charge of public fraud against Alisa Likitittiruks as the judge ruled that she was only a sales representative employed by the Ace Condo property developer The Nine Property (Patong) Co Ltd. Read the article……………
Singapore: Resolve amicably issues concerning pets
There have been several cases over the years where condo management corporations have tried to remove a pet, or institute rules which cause considerable stress and inconvenience to pet owners. This usually happens as a result of complaints from residents. Our experience has been that many of these cases can be resolved amicably by speaking […]
Singapore: Judge rejects condo’s ‘disproportionate’ bid to remove resident’s pet dog
A judge refused a condominium management corporation’s (MC) bid to remove a resident’s dog from the condo premises, warning against misuse through subjective interpretation of a condo by-law to force the move. The management council of JC Residence in Joo Chiat had taken dog owner Yan Wen Ting to court based on the woes of […]
Singapore: Managements, police warn of ‘condo-crashing’
Condominiums boast luxurious facilities meant for their residents and their guests. Some even have large swimming pools and washrooms rivalling that of five-star hotels. But a new trend is worrying the managements of some condominiums here. “Condo-crashing”, which entails members of the public entering the private premises to use the facilities, has led to some […]
Singapore: Why it pays to be involved in your condo’s management council
A few months ago, there was a much publicised furore at executive condo One Canberra between the managing agent and their residents. How did things come to such a state? Why should you consider getting involved, or at least pay attention, to your condo’s management council? Council members work closely with the appointed managing agent […]
Singapore: SMU law don defamed 3 at condo’s AGM
A Singapore Management University law professor was ordered to pay $120,000 in total damages after defaming three people during an annual general meeting of the management corporation (MC) of Duchess Residences in the Bukit Timah area. The trio who sued Prof Gao Shu Chao for defamatory remarks comprised MC chairman Tan Kok Quan, who is […]
Singapore: Some condo laws prevail over data protection needs
When it comes to protecting your personal data, there is a limit to what owners can do if their personal information is available to the public and the management at their private estate chooses to display it. This emerged after unit owners at three private estates took issue with their individual management corporations (MCs) and […]
Singapore: Fuming over condo fixtures
A group of 22 home owners at another condo wanted the trellises in their balconies to be covered. For some, it was about preventing killer litter. In both estates, their respective management corporations (MCs) said no. When mediation talks failed to resolve the matter, the owners took their cases to the Strata Titles Board (STB). […]
What You Need to Know About the Significant Change to Strata Laws in NSW
Many health care providers own or lease business premises which are the subject of Strata title and currently more than a quarter of NSW’s population lives in, owns or manages Strata property. Significant changes to Strata laws in NSW commenced on 30 November 2016 under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, the Strata Schemes Management […]
Bahamas: Condo Owners Hit By Fraud, Says Court
The Court of Appeal has quashed two separate settlements after finding “that a fraud has been perpetrated on the unit owners” at a Freeport condominium complex. Appeal Justice John Isaacs, in a May 16, 2017, verdict backed by his two fellow justices, found that the initial consent Order determining who should pay for hurricane-related repairs […]
Netherlands: More Dutch homeowners associations ban Airbnb rentals
An increasing number of homeowners associations have problems with Airbnb rentals, according to umbrella organization VvE Belang. A number of recent court rulings indicated that Airbnb rentals are not allowed without the permission of the homeowners association, and more and more are considering banning rentals to tourists, the organization said to BNR. Read the […]
Singapore: Condo buyers need better protection
The report on issues faced by the home owners of Austville Residences executive condominium (Austville residents seeking compensation for alleged defects; May 1) is timely, and highlights the concerns of new condo buyers. Buyers are often faced with the problem of determining what constitutes misrepresentation by developers, especially on features in the common areas, as […]
Malaysia: Dialogue session turns heated over condo woes
A DIALOGUE session at a condominium in Bandar Baru Air Itam in Penang, to resolve property maintenance issues turned ugly when some residents and representatives of the property management company locked horns instead. Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer had to intervene to cool down the heated exchange between the […]
Jamaica: Strata Property Owners To Wait Longer For Revised Tax Rates
Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has advised that it will need more time to reconfigure its system to calculate and post the new rates. It had previously advised that the new rates would have been available by this month end. The TAJ did not say when the reconfiguration will be completed. It says the public will […]
England: In Ongoing Crusade for Privacy, Residents of Glass Condos Sue Tate
Last year, residents of London’s glass-walled Neo Bankside condo complex adjacent to Tate Modern’s new Switch House wing complained that the museum’s visitors were violating their privacy. In addition to offering sweeping vistas of central London, the new Tate building’s observation deck offers clear views directly into the flashy flats. Now, five Neo Bankside residents […]
Turks and Caicos Islands: Villas and Condos Avoiding Taxes
Owners of villas, condominiums and some private homes in Turks and Caicos Islands are making significant sums of money from renting their properties, but many of them are not paying accommodation taxes to Government. The practice has been ongoing for many years and has grown in popularity. Now the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism […]
Nash Kray Party launches first online rating of housing management companies, homeowner associations in Kyiv (Ukraine)
The Nash Kray Party has launched a first social network in Ukraine for residents of multi-apartment buildings in Kyiv with an online rating option for housing management companies and homeowner associations. “Why Facejek? We want to show each housing management company, homeowner association or building managers in true colors. The uniqueness is that the website […]
Borneo: Study on strata titles
The Sabah government is looking into relevant laws regarding management corporation, issuance of strata and subsidiary titles as well as the complete development plan approval process, said Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang. Read the article………….
A look Inside Trump’s global deals exposes trouble in many spots
But an examination of his operations abroad reveals that, while he has made many millions selling his name, he has chosen a number of inexperienced — even questionable — partners, sometimes infuriated buyers and associates and moved late into saturated markets, producing less income than advertised. Read the article…………
Malaysia: New Development To The Strata Titles Act 1985
Prior to the coming into force of the Strata Titles (Amendment) Act 2013 (“STA 2013”) and the Strata Management Act 2013 (“SMA 2013”), the Strata Titles Act 1985 (“STA 1985”) and the Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007 (“BCPA 2007”) were the laws governing strata management. STA 1985 has been amended a […]
Thailand: Property Watch: Foreigners: beware of condo laws
Every year I learn a host of new rules and regulations which impact property investors in Thailand, sometimes positively but often detrimentally. This year I learned something new, which either by chance or good fortune, my clients over 13 plus years here have never experienced. Unfortunately, I view the situation as being severely detrimental and […]
Cambodia: The convoluted, unclear nature of strata titles
Cambodian laws towards land titles for foreign ownership have been largely untested amidst the current construction boom. After months of collaboration with the lawyers of Sok Siphana & Associates and National 6A Investment, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) has now started to transfer strata titles to purchasers of residential units […]
The Strata Management Tribunal (Malaysia)
THE freedom of “no payment of service charges” will end with the establishment of the Strata Management Tribunal (SM Tribunal). Any parcel owner or tenant who fails to pay service charges can be produced before the SM Tribunal with the implementation of the Strata Management Act 2013 Read the article…………
Malaysia: Resolving disputes of strata units
SINCE 1985, the strata regime in Malaysia has slowly entrenched itself into our daily lives, more significantly in urban areas such as Greater Kuala Lumpur, Penang island and Johor Baru. From the previous strata concept that was applicable only to high-rise buildings to landed strata units now, owners no longer own “property in the air” […]
Japan: Your home may be your castle, but not all of it is yours
When we were thinking about buying a condominium some years ago, we looked at older units and brand new ones, and one of our least favorite features was pebbled or fogged window glass, which was ubiquitous. Early on, when we didn’t know any better, we asked a real estate agent how much it would cost […]
Malaysia: Strata Management Act an eye-opener
ALTHOUGH the Strata Management Act (SMA) received its royal assent on Feb 5, 2013 and was gazetted on Feb 8, 2013, it was inordinately delayed because of the governing Strata Management (Maintenance & Management) Regulations and a host of other crossed referred laws in the Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Act, 1966 (amended 2012), its […]
Tribunal to ensure implementation of Strata Management Act (Malaysia)
A tribunal to manage the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) needs to be formed to ensure the Act is run smoothly. Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said this tribunal needs to be formed especially in Selangor, where 50% of the people lived in high-rise units. Read more…….
Bahamas Condo and Homeowners’ Association Fees Subject to VAT
Amid increasing enquiries the Ministry of Finance explained today that maintenance fees for condominium and homeowners’ associations will be subject to VAT if the annual billings exceed the mandatory registration threshold of $100,000. Read more………
Rules are rules: Pets in flats (South Africa)
Pet ownership generally creates problems in sectional title schemes and HOA run estates as many will either have conduct rules which stipulate “no pets allowed” or “one or two pets, of a small nature” but what happens when an owner goes against the rules, the trustees turn a blind eye for a period of time […]
Issues of governance, compliance and disclosure with condo management law (Singapore)
I find the current Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act inadequate in protecting the interests of subsidiary proprietors in areas of governance, compliance and disclosure, except for basic statutory compliances Read more……..