Introduced in 2005, the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act provides a legal framework for the management and maintenance of strata-titled properties.
In a bid to enhance governance and transparency over how strata-titled developments are run, the government is inviting the public to give feedback on the proposed key amendments to the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA).
Among the planned changes is limiting the number of proxies one can have during a general meeting to prevent those who gather proxy votes from abusing the system to influence decision-making, and allow the strata manager or the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) to pay honorarium to members of the management council, capped at $250 per annum for each individual.
Another is requiring developers to seek approval from the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Commissioner of Buildings for the quantum of maintenance charges they plan to impose before the sale of any strata lot. Previously, the builder only needed to get permission before collecting such fees.
One amendment aims to give power to the Commissioner to appoint a receiver to oversee the MCST during an emergency, or a period where there is no management council governing the estate. Another will permit unit owners to install safety grilles to prevent accidental falls, even if the development’s design guidelines do not mandate such features.
This will be the final round of public consultations to the proposed changes, and members of the public should send their feedback to the Commissioner of Buildings by 21 February.
Introduced in April 2005, the BMSMA provides a legal framework for the management and maintenance of strata-titled properties, and specifies the duties and obligations of the different stakeholders, like subsidiary proprietors (unit owners), management councils and managing agents. The act’s provisions empower MCSTs to make decisions regarding the maintenance and upkeep of their estate.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
