Weird Question about repairing of Tiles...

[Girl_Next_Door]

My building have a layer of glass tiles on the outside (not accessible from inside the apartment). Apparently, one of the glass tiles from my unit is broken and the pieces have dropped to the first level. I received a letter from the building management to repair the broken tile before any glasses injure the residents/passer-by.

Question: Do I arrange for the repair or should my landlord arrange for the repair? Its not clear in the lease arrangement because nobody will suspect the external tiles to break and incorporate a specific clause into the contract.

And if I have to repair it, how do one arrange for such repairs? There is no way anyone can reach the external wall without somebody absailing down. I am not even sure any tile repair man does it!?

My landlord is not in Singapore, so its likely that I have to arrange for it, and claim it against the rent.

Any ideas?

[yoongf]

Is the tile sticking on a wall that is seperating private from communual space? If it's a boundary wall, and the tile is from the external side, it is the responsibility of the MCST to get it fixed. This is normal regulation unless there is some odd bylaw which is contrary to that.

Anyway, even if it's the responsibility of the private space owner, tenant is not liable, unless it's the specific action of the tenant that cause the tile to pop out.

If MCST were to get it fixed, it will be billed to the specific owner's account, tenant unlikely to get the bill.

[Girl_Next_Door]

Thanks yoongf.

Its not a boundary wall but part of the external building structure. Some parts of the external wall is made out of glass tiles instead of bricks, and 2 of the glass tiles outside my unit is broken.

I definitely didn't cause the glass tile to pop because its not accessible from the inside of the apartment. And as far as I can remember, I didn't ab-sail and damage the outside of the building.

My apartment is relatively small one (only 20 units) hence I don't think we have MCST. There is a chairman who is also a resident in the building.

In any case, I told my agent about it but I have heard nothing yet. Will see how it goes...

Thanks again!

[ksl]

There should be building insurance in place to cover the outside of buildings! Check with management!

[Girl_Next_Door]

It's the "management" who asked me to fix the glass tiles. Isn't it contradicting if they are supposed to be the one who is fixing it, yet sending me a letter to do it?

[ksl]

It's the "management" who asked me to fix the glass tiles. Isn't it contradicting if they are supposed to be the one who is fixing it, yet sending me a letter to do it?

Then tell them to contact the owner abroad, your tenancy agreement wouldn't be expected by any legal entity to cover outside building structure unless it was stated in the contract.

That is the owners responsibility.

If you pay to have it done, then don't expect to get the money back, that's all i'm saying!

It is also highly unlikely it is one tile, you are talking about, what happens is that water gets in behind and spreads through the weakest points, tapping on the tiles will reveal any hollow behind them, these are likely to fall off in time. So i would say an inspection is required before any repair, and your talking quite a bit of money just for an inspection.

All buildings should be legally covered by insurance, you wouldn't even get a mortgage without it!

Contact the owner and tell him its not your problem on the outside and he'll have to claim through his building insurance to have the whole wall checked, otherwise he could get sued if anything falls on to people below!

The people who provided the finance should know the insurance company, but it's the owner that must make the application for repairs, it could be all the tiles are dropping, so it is quite urgent!

Do not sign for anything, to do with the repair, or you could implicate yourself if any damage is done later.

[Girl_Next_Door]

Thanks, I have advised my agent about it.