By The Address desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Condo owners pay maintenance fees to the development’s management corporation (MCST), typically S$300 to S$700 a month and more for luxury projects. The money goes into two pots. The management fund covers daily running: security, cleaning, lifts, the pool, insurance. The sinking fund saves for big, occasional jobs like repainting, roof repairs and lift replacements. Your share depends on your unit’s share value, which broadly tracks its size, and the amounts are set at the annual general meeting.
Quick facts
- Typical fees are S$300 to S$700 a month; luxury condos pay more.
- Fees are split between a management fund and a sinking fund.
- Your share depends on your unit’s share value.
- Fees are set, and revised, at the AGM.
- Buyers of new condos start paying once the development gets its Temporary Occupation Permit.
- MCST accounts must be audited every year.
What’s the difference between the two funds?
| Management fund | Sinking fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Pays for | Security, cleaning, lift servicing, pool and gym upkeep, staff, insurance, audit | Repainting, roof and lift replacement, waterproofing, major refurbishment |
| How often it’s spent | Every month | Every few years, in large amounts |
| Over time | Roughly balanced each year | Should grow until the building needs major work |
How is my share worked out?
Each unit is given a share value, based on things like its floor area and the development’s make-up. A bigger unit has a higher share value, so it pays more. Share value also sets your voting weight at meetings and your share of the proceeds in a collective sale.
Why do fees differ so much between condos?
- Facilities: more pools, gyms and landscaping cost more to run.
- Size of the development: in bigger projects, costs are shared among more owners.
- Age: older buildings need more repairs.
- Costs: rising prices for manpower and materials are passed on to owners.
What if the sinking fund runs short?
Owners can be asked to pay a special levy for major works. The issue is getting more attention as developments age: in 2026, the Building and Construction Authority’s review of strata management includes helping MCSTs keep adequate sinking funds.
What does the AGM decide?
Owners elect the council and vote on the budget and any change to fees. A meeting has a quorum when owners with at least 30 per cent of the total share value are present. MCSTs must keep financial records for at least seven years.
The WahLiao Verdict
Before buying into an older condo, ask for the last few years of MCST accounts and look at the sinking fund against the building’s age. A thin fund in a 20-year-old block is a bill you’re about to share. And go to the AGM: that’s where the fee is decided.
Questions people ask
Do tenants pay maintenance fees?
The owner pays the MCST. Whether any of it is passed on is up to the tenancy agreement.
When do new-launch buyers start paying?
Once the development receives its Temporary Occupation Permit.
Can the fees go up?
Yes, by vote at the AGM, usually when costs rise or the sinking fund needs topping up.
Is the HDB equivalent cheaper?
Yes. HDB households pay service and conservancy charges of under about S$120 a month; the guide on this desk has the rates.
Sources: Redbrick, guide to condominium maintenance fees; 99.co on fees and unit sizes and how fees are set; iCompareLoan on share value; Dollars and Sense, MCST guide; Ohmyhome Property Management on sinking funds in 2026.
Read next: HDB Service and Conservancy Charges · Property Tax for Owner-Occupiers · Back to The Address
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