Managing agents can take only legal route to punish condo litterbugs

In replying to my letter (Do more to stop high-rise littering in condos; Forum Online, May 20), the National Environment Agency wrote that Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) can use their by-laws to take action against litterbugs (Management agents can use by-laws to act against litterbugs; Forum Online, May 25).

Unlike the NEA, which has the authority to impose strict enforcement measures, including fines and Corrective Work Orders (CWOs), MCSTs need to take legal action if they wish to take offenders to task.

This process is both costly and time-consuming, so MCSTs are reluctant to act.

My condominium is a new one; the by-laws have not been fully formalised as the election of the first council has not taken place yet.

Hence, there are no by-laws to enforce against high-rise littering. And even when the by-laws are enacted, the condo management still does not have the same level of authority to impose a fine or CWO.

I reckon that it is time for a unified set of rules for administering enforcement measures on high-rise litterbugs in both public and private housing estates.

It seems odd to see litterbugs who live in public housing getting a fine or doing CWO, while offenders in private housing get away scot-free.

Larry Teo Seow Pho

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 02, 2017, with the headline Managing agents can take only legal route to punish condo litterbugs. Subscribe