Condos are supposed to offer comfort and convenience, with by-laws in place to maintain peace. However, sometimes condo management takes things a bit too far, turning reasonable rules into downright absurd ones.
Enforced by overzealous condo management, these by-laws often ignore everyday practicality, leaving residents wondering if anyone actually thought them through before implementing them. Here are 7 of the most ridiculous condo rules you’ll find in Singapore.
Contents
- 1. No laundry to be hung on the balcony
- 2. No window grilles to be installed
- 3. No shoe rack or doormat outside the door
- 4. No movers allowed inside the estate
- 5. Dress codes & bans at swimming pools
- 6. Dogs not allowed to pee on premises
- 7. Contractors fined for accidental parking mistakes
- Most absurd condo by-laws in Singapore
1. No laundry to be hung on the balcony
Image credit: IKEA
Condos are often admired for their unique facades and keeping them looking pristine takes effort. However, some MCSTs take things to a more extreme end by banning residents from hanging their laundry on their balconies or windows, just to keep the building looking ‘uniform’.
For families who prefer air-drying clothes in Singapore’s humid climate, this can be particularly frustrating. Your balcony becomes off-limits for such a simple chore, forcing you to dry your clothes indoors and hope that your wet laundry doesn’t start smelling musty.
Some security guards even patrol the vicinity to ensure that nothing is hanging in sight. It’s like living in a crime TV show, one wrong move and your towel becomes evidence. As shared by Redditor u/Apprehensive-Bat6720, “The security guards very on, they do rounds every few hours around the estate. I was asked to take down my swimming trunks and towel hanging from the balcony!”
2. No window grilles to be installed
Image credit: Epos.com.sg
Some management committees even go a step further by banning window and balcony grilles to preserve the condo’s facade. While it might make the building look more polished, it’s a serious safety concern, especially for residents with young kids.
Many residents have to jump through hoops just to get approval for installing something as basic as a safety grille, as if they are applying for a high-security clearance. It adds unnecessary stress and delays for something so simple.
Other committees take a slightly more reasonable approach, offering a list of approved grille designs. Sure, you might have to choose between “minimalist silver” or “black”, but it’s better than getting an outright “no”.
3. No shoe rack or doormat outside the door
Image adapted from: Frankie Lim on Facebook
Something as harmless as a door mat can land you in trouble with condo management. In the name of keeping corridors looking uniform and tidy, some by-laws ban residents from placing shoe racks or mats outside their doors, even confiscating them in extreme cases.
In reality, this is more infuriating than helpful. Without a place to leave your shoes, dust gets tracked into homes, and there’s nowhere to let them dry on rainy days. What’s meant to keep corridors tidy ends up making daily life unnecessarily inconvenient, making you wonder if anyone actually tested it before enforcing such a rule.
4. No movers allowed inside the estate
Image credit: LS House Movers Singapore
Moving day is stressful enough for homeowners, but some condos manage to make it even worse by banning moving trucks from entering the premises. Movers are forced to park by the roadside and haul furniture all the way in, turning a straightforward process into an unintentional strongman competition.
This rule inconveniences both residents and movers, and can even block traffic outside the estate. It’s the kind of policy that solves 1 problem by creating 2 new ones. Many Redditors questioned why the management couldn’t simply designate a proper parking area.
With most condos already limiting moving to certain hours, surely the noise and disruption can be managed without making you feel like you’re smuggling your own furniture.
5. Dress codes & bans at swimming pools
Image credit: iRumah
Some condos take pool attire very seriously, enforcing “modest” swimwear rules that only allow residents to wear one-piece swimsuits. Bikinis and two-piece swimwear are strictly banned—in one estate, the rule was introduced after a complaint about a “revealing” swimsuit.
On top of that, some estates explicitly bar domestic helpers from using shared facilities like the gym or swimming pool. Often framed as “security” or “insurance” reasons, it’s an unfair restriction that limits all residents from fully enjoying the amenities they’re paying for. For families relying on helpers, it’s an outdated rule that impacts everyone in the household.
6. Dogs not allowed to pee on premises
For pet owners, some rules are just plain ridiculous. Certain condos ban dogs from all common or ground-floor areas, meaning owners have to leave the estate just to let their pets relieve themselves.
While the rule is meant to keep the premises clean and prevent messes from irresponsible pet owners, it often feels extreme. Most owners resort to bringing their dogs to the nearest grass patch outside, which is far more practical than risking the ire of condo management. Still, some residents might take it upon themselves to ‘police’ dog owners while their dogs are out for a walk, making them feel uncomfortable in their own home.
7. Contractors fined for accidental parking mistakes
Image credit: G Tech Pte Ltd
Sometimes, even contractors end up on the wrong side of strict condo parking rules. Some estates now ban food delivery riders from parking within the compound, forcing them to walk in from the front gate and inconveniencing them during a busy shift.
To make matters worse, contractors also risk fines for honest mistakes. At a Farrer Road condo, a contractor was fined $272 after accidentally parking in a residents-only lot, causing his van to be clamped. The contractor commented that the signs were confusing, highlighting how these rules end up penalising contractors who are just doing their jobs.
Most absurd condo by-laws in Singapore
At the end of the day, condo living comes with its fair share of rules. Some are reasonable, while others are so absurd and borderline bizarre that they leave both residents and visitors scratching their heads. From banning laundry on balconies to policing what you can leave outside your door, it can feel like you’re living in a showroom instead of your own home.
If you’re planning to move into a condo, it’s worth reading through the by-laws carefully so you don’t get caught off guard by rules that complicate your daily life, or you just might risk your door mat getting confiscated.
For the less absurd side of condo living:
- 9 things to know about condo living before buying one in Singapore
- 7 things I learnt from living in the same condo for 20 years
- 5 neighbourhoods with cheap condo rentals near MRTs
Cover image adapted from: iRumah, Uchify
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