For better management of the condominiums in Singapore, several amendments have been proposed in the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA). This is also being done to enhance the facilities which are being provided to the residents.
The Ministry of National Development and the Building Construction Authority (BCA) are inviting public feedback until February 21 regarding proposed amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act. There are altogether 33 proposed amendments in the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act to govern condominiums in Singapore.
Main amendments proposed
The main amendments which have been proposed for governing condos include- setting a cap on the number of proxies one can hold (either 2 per cent of the total number of lots in the development or two subsidiary proprietors ( whichever is higher), in any strata – titled development; granting powers to the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST- managing body of a condominium) to decide on the payment of honorarium to council members, subject to a cap of SGD 250 per year per council member; prohibiting the treasurer of the managing council from concurrently holding office as chairperson or secretary; obtaining consent from nominees before they can be nominated and elected into the council and updating the definition of common property to include key building services and key structural elements
Amendment regarding managing agents
However, one of the proposed amendment regarding removal of mandatory annual review of appointments of managing agents can become a thorny issue between the managing agents and the residents.
According to the existing rules, the contract of a managing agent is reviewed at every annual general meeting and can also be terminated. An agent can be appointed by the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST), the managing body of a condominium, for up to three years.
The proposal to end the mandatory annual review is based on the rationale that " It is redundant to review the appointment of managing agents every year if the managing agent has already been appointed by the MCST for three years", according to a BCA press release.
Though managing agents have welcomed the amendment but residents are not happy with this change.
However, the proposed change will be effective when the draft Bill is read in Parliament.
For more details on the proposed changes in the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, readers can log on the website : www.bca.gov.sg