Originally Posted by
proud owner
the said condo has retail units... all are privately owned except for 1 unit which the developer kept since the condo was built. They wanted it to be managed by the MCST, for operators to sell drinks/food for the residents. Sort of a club house kind of thing, where pool and gym and function room users can purchase snacks, drinks etc.
Its an old condo.
for the past 20 over years, there had been at least 3 different operators.
After the last operator left in 2013, it has been left vacant. The unit is equipped with 1 and 3Phase power supply.
My neighbor approached the chairman of the council then and proposed to run a café/bakery.
The council was very much in favor of it. and a TA was granted to him sometime in April 2014.
He then applied to NEA for a food license and was told to submit all relevant documents.
All went ok. NEA then told him that he could start his renovation. After which NEA would need to inspect the unit before the license can be issued.
All this while, he liased with the council via email and through the condo manager.
He began his renovation, approved by the MCST. Spent $10k.
He also purchased coffee machine, oven, fridge, etc ... another $20k
in July when he tried to 'activate' the 3phase power, he was told by Singapore power (SP) that it could not be used. The original 3phase cable had been laid some 20 years ago and never been used. Past operators only used 1 phase power. SP said a new cable had to be laid. This would cost at least another $8k.
(Although the TA stated that the unit is leased 'As it is' condition, it is still the MCST's responsibility to ensure that everything under the MCST to be in 'working conditions')
After 2 mths of back and forth discussion with Sp to find a solutions, finally SP suggested that he could tap the 3phase supply from another source which is used to run the pool and gym.
By which time it was Nov 2014 and a NEW COUNCIL WAS FORMED.
My neighbor then approached the new council to seek then cooperation and help to allow him to tap the 3phase supply.
This is when everything turns ugly.
The new chairman is a veteran. He has lived there from day 1.
He has been members and chairman on several terms over the years.
He questioned my neighbor why the need to have 3 phase when the previous operators needed only 1 phase.
he explained that past operators sold drinks, and used microwave to heat up precooked, prepacked food. Hence household appliances was enough.
Since he plans to run a proper café, with freshly baked food, he purchased proper commercial equipment and these need 3phase power.
The chairman (Lets name him CCB), then said to my neighbor (V for victim) that the TA stated clearly 'As IT IS". hence CCB is not willing to allow V to tap the 3phase power.
V explained that the 3phase cable was originally there , just it is now confirmed that it cannot be used.
V said that he wants to bring fresh food to the residents and not microwave pre-cooked food. He asked CCB " don't you want better quality food for the people of this condo?"
CCB replied " NO"
V then pressed for an answer, CCb said the council would discuss and "get back to you"
V asked when ? 1 wk ? 2wk ?
CCB said " we will get back to you"
V said that this case has dragged for over 3 mths and he needed an answer soon. V asked again for a time frame.
CCB said again " we will get back to you"
2 weeks passed. V didn't hear from the mcst.
V asked the condo manager LL (Lan lan) if the council had given any reply yet. LL said " I really don't know"
"I am so sick and tired of handling this council. They don't tell me anything. when I ask CCB if he has replied to you, he told me " YOU DONT NEED TO KNOW"
What an A hole right ?
V then went to talk to the equipment suppliers and managed to Downgrade his appliances that run on 1 phase.
V then email the mcst that he was not waiting any longer for a reply and that he had downgraded his equipment and that he would apply to NEA for an inspection and then start operation.
The following day, V received an email from the MCST asking him to return the Key to the café.
V refused, explaining that as a tenant he has the right to hold on to the key. ( in fact after the renovation V has left 1 set of key with the condo manager)
2 days later, V received another email from the mcst.
it says " The TA is not void as you have failed to comply with the terms and conditions"
V wrote back to ask which T and C in particular has he not complied with.
the reply was " it is self explainatory"
till now V has no idea what went wrong.
The condo manager also don't know. This is why I name her LL ( lan lan ...as a condo manager , the council keeps everything from her)
A lawyer friend advised V to sent an OBJECTION email to the council. stating roughly that if they try to stop him from operating even with a legal TA, he will take legal action against the MCST.
The council simply ignored and still wouldn't give a straight answer.
In Jan, V received a registered letter from ACRA, that someone has complained that he is operating legally on the registered address.
V submitted the TA , PUB bills etc to ACRA to prove that he is the legal tenant.
ACRA 'kind of' accepted these documents but said, the complainant was the MCST. and if the mcst denies you, there is nothing acra can do but to ask V to de-register his business'.
after spending 10k on renovation and 20k on equipment, V is not allowed to operate. In fact he is being kicked out.
The mcst basically got a 20yr unit renovated free of charge...
This is why I ask :
what is the role of council members ?
shouldn't they be doing everything to make the condo facilities better ? instead of trying to stop V from doing somethingfor the residents?
throughout this period Nov to Jan the council has not replied to V which CCB said he would, nor reply to any of V's queries.
According to V, during the renovation period, many residents approached him to ask when the café will be up and running.
almost 75% of the residents are expat tenants, they use the pool, gym, everyday ... and they want to be able to buy some snacks, or refreshment..
This is the actual story.
So bros and sis, apart from taking legal action, what can V do ?