Communal Living in Singapore
Communal living is common in Singapore where many people live in properties like apartment and condominium where sharing the use of common space and facilities are part of the ordinary lifestyle in Singapore.
To facilitate the communal living in Singapore, many legislations and regulations had been placed to ease the use and the administration of the common properties. However, with the enactment of the legislations and regulations, some terms used may not be easily understood by a lay person. This article is to assist in understanding the commonly used phrase for matters in relation to common issues that may arise from communal living in Singapore.
What is a Subsidiary Proprietor?
A Subsidiary Proprietor is the registered owner of the unit. If the unit is owned jointly by two or more individuals, both the individual will be considered as a subsidiary proprietor of the unit.
What is a Share Value?
Share value of a property is the figure that represents the shares entitlement assigned to each unit of the development. This value may differ depending primarily on the perceived usage of the common facilities and the size of the unit.
Share value of the property determine the amount of contributions for maintenance that the subsidiary proprietor is required to pay the management corporation of the development. Subsidiary proprietor with higher share value will also have higher voting right in the Annual General Meeting.
What is the duty and responsibilities of a Subsidiary Proprietor?
Subsidiary proprietors are usually required to pay for maintenance contributions on a timely manner. The amount of maintenance contributions and the payment rates are usually decided by the MCST and the MCST can demand (and can pursue legal action) for the payment of these maintenance contributions.
The subsidiary proprietors are also required to comply with the by-laws and any notices that may be issued by public authorities or the MCST themselves in their day-to-day management of the condominium.
In Singapore, the Subsidiary Proprietors are also required to maintain the external features of the unit to ensure that the units are well-kept and presentable to others.
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What is the duty and responsibilities of the Developer?
The Developer is responsible in setting up the maintenance fund and to constitute the management corporation. The Developer will play the role of the council and to organize the first Annual General meeting and to set up the bank account for the collection of the maintenance fund.
Thereafter, the management and the maintenance of the common area of the development will be handed over to the Management Corporation Strata Title.
What is the Management Corporation Strata Title?
The Management Corporation Strata Title, or commonly known as the MCST is a managing property whose main role is to manage and maintain the common property of the development.
Members of the MCST are usually comprises of all the Subsidiary Proprietors (i.e. the unit owner) of the development and are represented by the council members of the MCST. To be elected as a council member of the MCST, the individual must be at least 21 years old and must be either the Subsidiary Proprietor of a unit in the development or an immediate family who is nominated by the Subsidiary Proprietor).
The council members are usually nominated and elected among the Subsidiary Proprietors of the development and will be in charge of the daily management of the condominium and the organization of the Annual General Meeting (aside from the first Annual General Meeting which is organized by the Developer).
How can we help?
We can assist you to take any legal action against the MCST or other subsidiary proprietor.
However, we do understand that as a subsidiary proprietor of the condominium, taking legal action may not necessarily be the best option for communal living in Singapore. We can therefore assist in arranging for a resolution with the subsidiary proprietor or the MCST to seek an amicable solution for all the parties involved.
Speak to a lawyer now
CONTACT US TODAY
Our specialised lawyers and their team are standing by to assist you. Our first consultation is free.
