{
  "id": 6336095,
  "title": "Commentary: Condo en bloc rules are changing, and neighbours will feel it first",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/commentary-condo-en-bloc-rules-are-changing-and-neighbours-will-feel",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T22:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/en-bloc-condominiums-thresholds-neighbour-disputes-6367166"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A collective sale, or en bloc, can often stir up tension among condominium neighbours, as various interests clash. In response to these challenges, Singapore's Parliament recently passed the Land Titles (Strata) (Amendment) Bill, which alters key aspects of the rules governing such sales.\n\nOne significant change involves reducing the percentage of homeowners who must agree to a collective sale. Previously, 80% of owners needed to consent for estates aged 40-59 years and 65% for those aged 60 or older. The new legislation lowers these thresholds to 70% and 65%, respectively. This adjustment aims to support the renewal of aging developments.\n\nMoreover, the bill introduces stronger protections for owners who oppose a sale. Currently, at least 35% of owners, determined by share value or number of owners, must sign the request to initiate a sale committee. This requirement has been raised from the current 20% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, the period for collecting signatures will be reduced from 12 months to just six months.\n\nShould a collective sale bid fail, the estate must wait three years before attempting the sale again, up from the current two-year waiting period. Furthermore, the maximum amount a court can award to en bloc objectors will be doubled.\n\nLaw Minister Edwin Tong explained that the shortened signature collection period is intended to address the \"prolonged pressure\" faced by owners who do not wish to sell. However, he acknowledged that a six-month timeframe may be overly demanding, particularly for larger projects. Industry players have reportedly voiced concerns about the feasibility of such a short deadline.\n\nDespite these changes, the intensity of the pressure campaign remains unaltered. The law currently allows the Strata Titles Boards and the court to evaluate three factors during the sale's legitimacy review: the price, the division of money, and any relationship between the buyer and a homeowner. A successful objection requires either the homeowner receiving less than their original payment or the funds failing to cover their mortgage. The only recognized loss by the court is financial.\n\nWhile the courts have acknowledged the importance of protecting minority owners, the duty is only thoroughly tested when a dispute reaches court. No guidelines exist to guide committees during the initial signature-gathering phase. Consequently, there is a proposal to establish a code of conduct for signature campaigns within the Act. This code could define boundaries around owner interactions, such as assigning a single point of contact for each household and permitting owners to withdraw their consent within five working days of signing the agreement.",
  "summary": "Halving the time a collective sale committee has to collect signatures shortens the campaign but does nothing to soften it, says NUS law professor Gabriel Kor.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Commentary: Condo en bloc rules are changing, and neighbours will feel it first",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/commentary-condo-en-bloc-rules-are-changing-and-neighbours-will-feel-6341073",
        "published": "2026-09-08T22:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}