Casa Aerata, a 78-unit condominium in Geylang, passed by-laws restricting foreign worker housing starting in March 2025, sparking disagreements between its Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) and condo owners [1, 2]. The first by-law banned work permit holders, especially construction workers, from living in units for less than three months, while a second by-law in January 2026 allowed only 'eligible foreign employees', such as Employment Pass and S Pass holders, to rent units [1, 2].
Condo owners who rented units to companies housing foreign workers began receiving legal letters from the MCST in April 2026, alleging breaches of these by-laws. The owners were given a deadline of March 31, 2026, to amend tenancy agreements to comply and warned of a SGD 200 administrative fee for non-compliance. Potential legal action was also mentioned [1, 2].
Only 12 owners attended the general meeting when the first by-law was passed in March 2025, leading some to question the validity of the measures [1, 2]. A lawyer explained that the by-laws remain valid if 75% of attendees' share value vote in favor, but owners can challenge the rules or appeal to the Strata Titles Boards [1, 2].
The MCST spokeswoman said the by-law was prompted by practical concerns, including littering, bulky items in common areas, cockroach infestations, fire risks from appliances, and overcrowding. She added, "The energy, resources and expenses invested in managing this has been quite high, so that’s why we passed the by-law in 2025." She also emphasized, "It is not the MCST’s intention to target migrant workers" [1].
So far, 12 owners have been served legal letters. Of these, two have agreed to evict their tenants to comply with the by-laws [1, 2]. The MCST continues to enforce the rules to address the issues linked to foreign worker housing in the condominium.
Casa Aerata’s MCST has set the March 31, 2026 deadline as the final date for owners to amend tenancy contracts and resolve any breaches before further enforcement steps are taken [1, 2].
