By Hakim Hassan hakim@thestar.com.my

The Joint Management Committee (JMC) is an essential part of strata management to ensure that amenities are well kept for residents to enjoy. Under the Strata Management Act 2013, there are duties and also powers that are given to members of the JMC to run their operations smoothly.

Below are some of the roles of the JMC according to the Strata Management Handbook published by the research arm of the Real Estate & Housing Developers' Association (REHDA), Rehda Institute.

The following describes some of the key functions and the duties and powers of the committee. It is important for dwellers to be aware of JMC’s responsibilities to ensure their wellbeing is well taken care of.

The gym and swimming pool are some of the areas under the responsibility of the JMC. Photo used for illustration purposes only

Task 1
Sustaining the Building and Common Property
It encompasses structural elements of the buildings; stairways, fire escapes, entrances and exits, corridors, lobbies, fixtures and fittings, as well as lifts.
The task is also extended to waste management such as refuse chutes, refuse bins, compounds, drains, water tanks, sewers, and pipes.

Not only that, the JMC is also responsible for electrical related and beyond such as wires, cables and ducts that serve more than one parcel and the exterior of all common parts of the building, among them include playing fields and recreational areas.

Also, other areas such as driveways, car parks and parking areas, open spaces, landscape areas, walls and fences and all other facilities (for example swimming pool, gym, library, guardhouse) are also within the scope of the JMC.
These also include installations and any part of the land used or capable of being used or enjoyed in common by all the strata unit owners and residents.

Duties and Powers

• To properly maintain and manage the building or land intended for subdivision into parcels and the common property
• To keep the building and common property in a state of good upkeep and repair

Task 2
Impose, Collect and Deposit Charges and Fees
Charges are also commonly referred to as service charges, maintenance charges or maintenance fees: A strata unit owner is to pay the expenses in proportion to the share units of his/her parcel.

Normally, charges can be collected in advance by the JMC on a quarterly basis.

Duties and Powers

• To determine and impose charges
• To collect charges from the strata unit owners (including the developer for unsold parcels, undelivered units or provisional blocks)
• To deposit the fees into the maintenance account

Task 3
Impose, Collect and Deposit Contribution to the Sinking Fund
The contribution to the sinking fund serves as a kind of reserve fund. The rate is set at minimum 10% of the maintenance charges as per the SMA.

All strata unit owners must contribute to the sinking fund. If a unit/parcel is unsold, the developer must contribute to the sinking fund.

Duties and Powers

• To determine and impose the contribution to the sinking fund
• To collect the contribution to the sinking fund from the strata unit owners (including the developer for unsold parcels)
• To deposit the contribution to the sinking fund into the sinking fund account