Strata Title

Under the Land Titles (Strata) Act, a development is divided into individual subsidiary strata lots, each with its own certificate of title, plus common property that every owner shares an undivided interest in. This structure applies to condominiums, executive condos, some commercial developments such as shopping podiums and shophouse units, and strata landed housing, the terrace and semi detached style cluster housing that looks like ordinary landed property but is legally strata, complete with its own MCST.

Once a development is strata titled, the MCST is automatically formed and every owner is automatically a member. The MCST registers by laws, sometimes called house rules, that bind every current and future owner, covering things like renovation approval, pets, subletting, use of common facilities, and placement of items such as air conditioning condenser units. These by laws can be amended over time by the required majority of owners, and enforcement typically works through warnings and fines under the Act rather than criminal penalties.

What commonly surprises buyers is that strata title, even for landed looking cluster housing, still means you do not own the land outright the way you would with a standard bungalow or terrace house on its own title, and decisions about shared driveways, gates, gardens, or a communal pool are collective, not yours alone to make. Buyers moving from an ordinary landed home to strata landed housing sometimes underestimate how much this changes day to day life, from needing approval for exterior renovations to having a maintenance fee and sinking fund they did not have before.

Before buying, confirm whether a development that looks landed is actually strata titled or is a standard title landed property, since the two carry very different ongoing obligations, and review the current by laws for any restriction that would affect how you intend to use the property, whether that is renovation plans, keeping pets, or subletting part of the unit.

Winfred Quek is an Associate Marketing Consultant at Crestbrick Pte Ltd (CEA Licence No. L31010886H). CEA R073319H. This page is for general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Verify current figures with IRAS, HDB, CPF Board, or MAS before making any decision.