Choice of property management system for residential strata developments in SingaporeThis section presents a case study of two residential strata developme nts in Sin gapore-referred to here as“ Strata Developme nt Aand “ StrataDevelopment B”.The case study provides insights into the two developments choice of property management system and its implications.Based on interviews with the property manager and Managing Agent of the two developments, the different property management systems are examined to establish how appropriate and suitable they are for each strata development. These provide valuable lessons for other residential strata developments on the implications of each property management system.Choice of residential strata developments for case studyThe two developments were selectedfor the case study based on the following criteria:Location: The two strat developments are located in close proximity to each other in a prime residential area in Singapore. As such they share similar locational attributes like distance to amenities and access to public transport.Age: The construction of the two strata developments were completed around the same time Strata Development A in 1977 and Strata Development B in 1979. The implication of the age of the strata developments is that it provides a good comparison with regard to the physical deterioration and the extent of up keep and maintenance required for both of the strata developments.Tenure: The two strata developments share similar tenures -both hold 999-year lease hold titles.Different management systems: Strata Development A has always employed an in-house management team for their strata development, while Strata Development B has always employed a Managing Agent to manage their strata development.Data availability: The Chairs of the Management Councils as well as both the property manager and Managing Agent of both strata developments were responsive and forthcoming with regards to the information required for this study.Strata development AStrata Development A is a residential strata development within a prime residential area. The development consists of 470 units which include 38 townhouses and six shop houses with the rest of the units built into five high-rise tower blocks. The tenure of the property is 999 years leasehold. Since the development was completed in 1977, it has employed an in-house management team to oversee its property and facility management needs.There was just one time a relatively brief period of about six mon ths -whe n a Managing Age nt was en gaged as a con sulta nt: this was when the strata development was seeking a new property manager. Even then the Managing Agent was never involved in the line of authority of the Management Council or of the in-house management team. Rather the role of the appointed Managing Agent was merely to act as a consultant on any issues the Management Council or property manager may have encountered in the management of the strata development during the interim.The in-house management team for Strata Development A comprises of 28 staff members. The property manager acknowledges that it is rare for a residential strata development in Singapore to employ an in-house management team of this size. The property manager heads the team all of whom are under the direct payroll of the development s Management Corporation Figure 3.The property manager who holds a Polytechnic Diploma in Property Management is assisted by a property officer a chief securityofficer an administrative officer and two accounts officers. In addition the property officer leads a team of six maintenance staff that take care of the daily physical maintenance of the strata development including the periodic servicing of the strata development s wateratanndks and pumpsreplacement and repair of any faulty electrical devices. The chief security officer leads a team of sixteen security guards whose job includes the manning of the development s three en-etrxyit points and the patrolling of the strata development to ensure the safety of the residents in the strata development. The only aspect of the running of the strata development which is not handled by the in-house management team is cleaning and waste disposal which is sub-contracted to an external cleaning 2company.By having the entire team under the direct employment of the Management Corporation the issue of command and control is more efficacious as when compared to the situation if the strata development was run by a Managing Agent. By having all the staff report to him the property manager has a better grasp of the day-to-day happenings in the strata development. With this overview he is able to respond more quickly to situations or emergencies that arise.The property manager also pointed out that in his experience at the development beyond the physical aspects of running an in-house management team , he has found that the staff in