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First time i an actually looking at condos to be honest and I keep seeing units with very different maintenance fees even though the size is almost the same and in same area as well.
Some are around $ 300+ a month while others are much higher . is it mainly because of the number of facilities or are there other things that affect the maintenance fee ? (i m very curious to know it) if I’m comparing a older condo with fewer facilities against a newer one, should i be worried if the maintenance fee is already quite high ? also secondly if if compare new condo with newer condo so there are still major different in fees? regards,
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Gan Eng Joo ONASSIS
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Maintenance fees (Management Fund + Sinking Fund) are determined by several structural factors beyond just the number of facilities:

### 1. Total Unit Density (The Number One Driver)

Fixed operational costs (24/7 security guards, daily cleaners, lift maintenance, landscape irrigation) exist whether a condo has 50 units or 1,000 units:

* **Boutique Condos (30–100 units):** Even with zero fancy amenities, 50 owners must divide high fixed overheads, easily pushing monthly fees to **S$550–S$850+**.
* **Mega Condos (800–1,500 units):** Economies of scale allow massive resort facilities while keeping fees down to **S$250–S$350/month**.

### 2. New vs. New: Why Identical-Age Condos Differ

Comparing two newly completed developments with similar unit sizes:

* **Unit Count / Density:** A 300-unit project will always have higher per-unit maintenance than a 1,000-unit project nearby.
* **Share Value Allocation:** Premium layouts (e.g., private lift lobbies, high strata voids, or large PES/penthouses) carry higher share values, increasing the monthly multiple.
* **Specialised High-Maintenance Features:** Developments with extensive water features, mechanical car parking, or high facade maintenance (concierge teams, extensive green walls) budget higher operating expenses.

### 3. Should You Worry if an Older Condo Has High Fees?

**Yes, you should examine it closely:**

* **Aging Infrastructure:** Older condos require heavier contributions to the **Sinking Fund** to finance lift replacements, facade repainting, water pump overhauls, and underground pipe repairs.
* **The Danger Sign:** Ask the managing agent for the latest AGM minutes and balance sheet. If fees are high but the **Sinking Fund balance is depleted**, owners may face sudden **special levies** (one-off cash top-ups of S$5k–S$20k) for major structural repairs.

**Rule of Thumb:** A newer mega-project gives you the lowest monthly fee. In older resale condos, always check the Sinking Fund reserves before committing.

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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®

MSc BIT (Middlesex, UK); BBA (UniSA)

CEA Reg No: R021244C | Mobile: (+65) 88899918 

Email: onassis@sgagent.com

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