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Covid-19: Tighter Restrictions on Residents in Stratified Properties

13 April 2020

Midway through the second phase of the Movement Control Order (‘MCO’) from 1 to 14 April 2020 (‘Phase 2 Period), the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (‘KPKT’) issued an update in relation to the Frequently Asked Questions (‘Updated FAQs’)[1] on 8 April 2020, providing further clarifications regarding restrictions within residential and commercial strata scheme area.
 
The Updated FAQs is similar to the previous FAQs dated 21 March 2020 with the following changes and/or emphasis[2]:-
 
  1. Social distancing remains the new normal during the Phase 2 Period. Outdoor activities within the strata scheme areas are not allowed.
  1. Visitors are not allowed entry into residential strata scheme areas such as condominiums, save for children, siblings or caregivers of senior citizens living alone, patients[3], feeble individuals or residents who require constant monitoring and/or immediate medical attention. If there is a death[4] of a resident, only children, siblings or caregivers are allowed entry. In any event, visitors with body temperature exceeding 38°C will not be allowed to enter.
  1. Courier and delivery service personnel (e.g. ‘FoodPanda’ or ‘Grabfood’) are allowed entry up to the security guardhouse/ security counter; postmen are allowed access up to the mailbox room. As in the case of visitors, only personnel and postmen with body temperature not exceeding 38°C will be permitted entry.
  1. Moving in or out is only permitted for essential services’ businesses. It appears that there are restrictions on moving to a new apartment/ house. Where a rental agreement has expired, KPKT encourages the tenant to discuss with the landlord to extend the tenancy until the end of the MCO.
  1. All short-term rental accommodation such as ‘Airbnb’ are not permitted during the implementation of the MCO.
In addition, KPKT clarified that[5]:
 
  1. Virus disinfection contractors are permitted entry into strata scheme premises/units to carry out disinfection works. Although not expressly stated, such contractors should be subject to body temperature screenings before entry.
  1. Restoration of electricity and repair of leaking pipes can and must be carried out immediately as the damage or loss of use of such amenities could affect the daily lives of the residents during the MCO.
  1. For commercial strata premises such as office buildings, only businesses carrying on essential services may operate during the Phase 2 Period. Such businesses are required to report to the management offices for purposes of supervision and to ensure smooth entry and exit of buildings. Personnel carrying out essential services duties requiring access to such strata scheme areas are required to wear face masks and to reduce movement within the said areas.
  1. For joint management bodies (‘JMB’), management corporations (‘MC’), agents/ property managers, management offices which were previously directed to be closed can now operate from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with not more than two persons manning the office at any given time. This is to ensure essential services of the strata scheme areas are not affected. However, management offices remain closed to the public during the Phase 2 Period.
  1. The JMB, MC or its authorised property management company are required to issue confirmation letters to the relevant personnel and to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of everyone within the community, including taking COVID-19 prevention and control measures, to conduct temperature screening, to provide sanitisation and to practice social distancing at all times.
  1. Face-to-face JMB or MC meetings are not permitted; such meetings are allowed via teleconference.
Comments
 
It has been reported[6] that the KPKT will come up with standard operating procedures to protect residents at condominiums and apartments during the MCO.
 
The allowance given for management offices to operate (albeit with restrictions) and permission for immediate rectification of water and electricity supply issues are welcomed to ensure that residents continue to have access to the basic daily necessities, in line with the objective of the MCO for everyone to ‘stay at home’.
 
Rules on visiting residents of stratified properties have been significantly tighten - visitors are allowed entry only for specified purposes and delivery personnel are subject to restricted entry. It goes without saying that jogging around the condominium remains prohibited, and don’t even think about sunbathing by the pool!
 
With the Government’s announcement on 10 April 2020 that the MCO will be further extended until 28 April 2020, it remains to be seen whether further restrictions will be imposed on residents of stratified properties.
 
Our earlier Alert on the KPKT’s FAQs dated 21 March 2020 is available here.
 
Our Construction and Engineering Practice Group will continue to keep you updated on the latest developments.
 
If you have any queries, please contact our Ms. Jocelyn Lim (Partner) at jocelyn.limyeantse@skrine.com or Mr. Jeremiah Ch’ng (Associate) at jeremiah@skrine.com.
 
 
[1] The full text of the Updated FAQs is available here.
[2] Updated FAQs No. 33, 29, 31, 35, 36 and 30.
[3] Not being a Covid-19 patient or a patient of any other disease requiring notification under Section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
[4] Not involving the Covid-19 pandemic or any other disease requiring notification under Section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
[5] Updated FAQs No. 28, 32, 26, 18, 27, 20 and 25. 
[6] For further details see ‘SOP for condos in the Works’, The Star, 11 April 2019.

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