theSun Property August 2016

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>More dilemmas and discomforts

continue from last

week’s article that

underlined the basic

fact that an “elevated”

lifestylemay not be all that great, in

this case. While last weekwe

published data on the rising

numbers of condominiumprojects

and the larger piece of the pie these

high-rise residentials hold in sales

figures, we continue to share what

some condo dwellers have to put up

with in terms of dilemmas,

disappointments and discomforts.

There is no doubt that the price-

tag that comes with this residential

type is usually lower than landed

property, thus, affordable. But one

should not discount or ignore the

many constraints and restrictions to

lifestyles and preferences, along

with “conveniences” that may not

be all that convenient in the end.

Below, we findmore perplexities

of those living in condominiums

and apartments.

LESS PRIVACY

Depending on the number of

residential units per floor – some

apartments/condos hardly have

passageways and corridors, thus

requiring residents to live in

“pigeon holes” or cubicles as some

call them, in relatively close

proximity, at times a little too close

for comfort. Laughing matters

aside, there are times you know

what your neighbour is having for

dinner, if they’ve had

durians, or even their ins

and outs, not to mention

their bath times or when

the lavatory is in use. Mind

you, one can even tell one’s

neighbour’s favourite TV

channel, the conversations

that take place, especially

arguments, gossip, debates

and serious dialogues. For

those who are privileged

enough to live in duplexes

or condos with ample

amounts of wide, open

spaces or residential units

that come with thicker,

better quality walls and

partitions, there is still the

ever-so-often want for a

swim in a pool with no one

but you, or a walk in the

garden without having to

bump into a chatty

neighbour and such.

Me-time and privacy is

rarely easily obtainable

when living in such close

circumstances.

NOISE POLLUTION

As sound travels fastest

through solids, i.e. walls,

there is less privacy and

more noise pollutionwhen

living inmulti-tiered and

connected cubicles. A

common and frequent

complaint received is about

contractors performing

renovationworks and the

amount of noise and

disturbance it causes. In

most cases, workmen are allowed to

perform repairs andmaintenance

chores during “office hours”. Ideal

for the household of working adults

but woe to the stay-at-homemums,

the homemakers or domestic

managers (men included) with kids

that need their naps. The sound of

drilling, hacking, or even “softly”

tapping a nail into the wall is

amplified and can drive one nuts.

Like it or not, the only solution to

this problemwould be to have ear

plugs on stand-bywhen needed or

practise dailymeditationwhen

your neighbour above has a baby

learning towalk and uses a chair as

a walking aid.

RESTRAINED RENOVATION

AND FACELIFT ABILITIES

Does it reallymake sense that one

buys a high-rise unit to call home

yet is unable to do as one liked as in

substituting walls for windows and

glass doors, or even painting the

outsides of one’s unit whatever

colour one wished. Many owners

do agree that having the exterior of

one’s condo unit in different shades

could be an eyeful, in a different

way (an eyesore). While some

condomanagement have rules that

require only certain and selected

colours to be used, some do not

allow for any repainting of

exteriors, claiming it will be done

by themanagement according to

themaintenance schedule. Mind

you, there are some condominiums

withwalls that are simply

unsightly, especially those with

watermarks running all the way

down from leaking pipes and such.

Other complaints include exteriors

bearing pigeon and bird droppings,

crackedwalls and peeling

paintwork, brokenwindow frames,

pipes and ducts, not tomention

unsightly badlymaintained

facilities within the surrounding

condominiumcompound.

LIMITED PARKING SPACES

This seems to have become a

growing issue across one too

many a condominiumand

neighbourhood. It seems as though

parking space is something the

authorities and relevant personnel

have not looked into in keeping up

with development and the

increasing population. We have

received grievances on parking for

owners, tenants, as well as visitors,

more recentlymanywho are at wits’

ends having received a stack of

parking summonses with no

solution to their parking woes. In

today’s society and developing

countries, it is quite common for

working individuals (and college-

going youth) to own at least one

vehicle (most times a car).

Unfortunately our climate does not

make other forms of transport

convenient and comfortable. In

most urban households with

residents aged 18 years and above,

each individual usually owns a car,

sometimes more. Hence, the need

for additional space for parking.

Looking at the high-rise

developments in construction and

the ones at hand, youwill find

that most offer one to two parking

lots per condo unit, occasionally

three (for themore high-end

developments), and insufficient.

While Desa Putra Condominium’s

management committee has come

upwith a solution for their

residents, the plan is not viable for

all developments, depending on

space availability and the number of

parking lots. Moreover, there is said

to be big business in parking space

these days. Some claim there are

people buying up lots and renting

themout for a profit. With parking

amajor woe, we will be doingmore

research and engaging with

developers and condomanagement

personnel on this critical issue.

Followour column onmore

complaints next week, ending with

a who to turn to and possible

alternatives/solutions. Email us if

you have any.

PART2

Condo

conundrums

theSun ON FRIDAY

AUGUST 19, 2016