Enforcement against managing agents not the only resolution for estate defects: Forum

Source: Straits Times
Article Date: 11 Nov 2026

A collaborative, responsibility-mapped approach will deliver faster, fairer outcomes.

We refer to Edmund Goh’s letter “Introduce enforcement mechanisms for unresolved estate defects” (Oct 28). The MCST Association of Singapore shares the writer’s frustration.

He is right that visual inspection alone is inadequate. But enforcement against managing agents is only one link in a chain of responsibility that must hold at five points.

First, subsidiary proprietors must know their duties under Section 63 of the Building (Strata Management) Act (BSMA), which prohibits interference with another lot’s support or shelter. Many seepage disputes turn on alterations within a lot. Education at point of sale and through MCST (management corporation strata title) channels should be routine.

Second, managing agents must perform professionally and comply fully with the BSMA. A managing agent relying on visual inspection beyond a reasonable period without recommending escalation to a qualified professional is failing the service the MC has paid for. We support clearer contractual standards and documented escalation triggers.

Third, developers must honour the 12-month defects liability period under the prescribed sale and purchase agreement. Where latent common-property defects surface after the defects liability period, the MCST may still have contractual recourse.

Fourth, qualified persons must ensure design provisions and materials are fit for purpose under Section 9 of the Building Control Act. A facade system specified without regard to Singapore’s tropical exposure is a design failure no maintenance can fully cure.

Fifth, main contractors must build in accordance with the Act, regulations, approved plans, and the standard of development projected to purchasers.

These responsibilities are interlocking. For instance, a managing agent that escalates promptly prevents small defects from becoming structural disputes, while a developer that stands behind its product reduces downstream friction.

We support the writer’s call for time-bound escalation. But enforcement aimed only at managing agents will not fix a chain weak at multiple points. We urge the authorities to develop role-specific escalation protocols for all parties ^_ making clear who must act, to what standard, and what follows from inaction.

Residents should not have to rely on repeated follow-ups for a technically sound diagnosis.

A collaborative, responsibility-mapped approach will deliver faster, fairer outcomes than a punitive one alone.

Dennis Tan
President
MCST Association of Singapore

Introduce enforcement mechanisms for unresolved estate defects: Forum

When residents report defects affecting their homes, they expect proper investigations and timely action.

But what happens when a management corporation strata title (MCST) relies on visual inspections and its own interpretations for prolonged periods, without engaging qualified professionals to conduct appropriate technical assessments?

My home has been experiencing persistent water seepage believed to originate from the external facade for approximately six months. Despite repeated inspections and follow-ups, the actual source remains unconfirmed. This prolonged uncertainty reflects the MCST’s continued reliance on visual inspections rather than a proper technical investigation.

My experience raises a broader concern about how private estate defects are investigated and managed. When conclusions are drawn without adequate technical evidence, there is a risk of incorrect diagnoses, ineffective repairs and prolonged delays. The consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Persistent defects can cause further damage to residents’ homes and their neighbours’ properties, and pose safety risks.

I propose that technical assessments by suitably qualified professionals be required when defects remain unresolved beyond a prescribed period.

There should also be clear guidelines requiring managing agents to escalate unresolved cases to qualified professionals. Where managing agents fail to comply, the relevant authorities should have clear enforcement mechanisms.

Residents paying maintenance fees should not have to endure prolonged uncertainty, potential property damage and repeated follow-ups.

Edmund Goh