Two Very Different Situations
For landed property, the roof is yours. You decide when to waterproof, what system to use, and who does the work. You also pay for everything. For a condo top-floor unit, the roof is almost always common property — owned by the management corporation, maintained from the sinking fund.
This single difference changes everything: who you call, who has to approve, how the cost is allocated, and what happens if it leaks again.
Landed Property: Direct Control
On a landed property in Singapore, you can engage any waterproofing contractor at any time. You pay directly, the warranty is issued to you, and you can choose the system, the timing, and the finish. The trade-off is full financial responsibility.
For terrace and semi-detached homes, party walls and parapet walls can complicate things. If a leak from your roof is affecting your neighbour's wall, both sides may need to coordinate. A good waterproofing contractor will flag this during the site visit and document the boundary clearly.
Condo Top-Floor Units: MCST Territory
If you own a top-floor condo unit and you have a leak from the roof, the first call is to the building management office, not a waterproofing contractor. The MCST is responsible for waterproofing common property, and unilateral repairs by an owner usually void any claim against the MCST and can create disputes.
The standard process: log a formal complaint with the MCST, allow them to send an inspector, get a written acknowledgement, and ask for a timeline. By-laws vary across developments, so check your specific MCST rules.
When the MCST Drags Its Feet
In some developments, particularly older ones with depleted sinking funds, the MCST may delay waterproofing repairs for months or years. This is genuinely frustrating when your ceiling is dripping. Practical options: escalate to the council in writing, request an EGM if multiple top-floor units are affected, or use the Strata Titles Boards process for unresolved disputes.
Temporary internal repairs — patching the ceiling stain, replacing damaged drywall — are usually allowed and may be reimbursable from the MCST if the cause is common property failure. Keep all receipts and document the leak carefully.
Penthouse Roof Terraces and Private Roof Decks
Some condo units include a private roof terrace or roof deck. Even when the roof terrace is part of your strata lot, the waterproofing membrane below it is often classified as common property because it protects the structure of the building. This grey area causes most condo roof disputes.
Read your strata title plan and by-laws carefully. If you are planning major renovations to a roof terrace, MCST approval is almost always required, and the management may insist on using their nominated waterproofing contractor to keep building-wide warranties intact.
How DirectHome Fits In
For landed property, our process is straightforward — site visit, written quote, system specification, scheduled works, and warranty. The waterproofing specialists we partner with handle everything from surface preparation through final coat.
For condo units, we are not always the right call. If your leak is a common property issue, the MCST process applies and we cannot work around it. But if you have a strata lot roof terrace, a private outdoor area within your unit boundary, or a leak that may need an independent expert opinion to push the MCST to act, WhatsApp us and we will let you know honestly whether we can help.
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