Highrise Living

I lived in an estate environment during my younger days and when I came to the city, I bunked in with my aunt in a two room terraced house. Subsequently, I moved into a condominium after many years of savings. Infact, I was quite pleased living in a condominium until the formation of our Management Council (MC).

With the current government's serious efforts to get developers to handover to the (MC) once the quota was achieved our (MC) came into power a few months ago and when they into power, they immediately raised the Service Charge by about 50% and more depending on the square area despite protests from the owners. Owners were forced to abide to the new increase otherwise there will be disconnection of water and late payment interest charge. The (MC) even threatened to resign enbloc should we insist to lower the Service Charge. Take it or leave it, NON NEGOTIABLE ok.

With the arbitrary increase, the (MC) stands to reap a whopping profit but they fail to realise that the (MC) is not a profit making organization!

Meantime, owners who were dissatisfied with the increase continued to pay the old rate the remaining unpaid amount was charged interest and had further angered the owners.

A group of concerned owners came together and managed to arrange an owners meeting with the help of Dr Jai and Sunny to compel the (MC) to meet the residents to iron out the arbitrary increase.

Many letters were flying here and there between the (MC), our developer and the Commissioner of Buildings (COB). Alas we finally got the (MC) to meet the residents on 17 May with the help of (COB).

We should not give up easily for a good cause. When residents are united and co-operative better living conditions and standards is a reality.

Lackluster attitude by residents leads to deterioration of the property value. Happy to note that our condominium is still greatly in demand.