Common Corridor Obstruction
in Malaysian Condos — Rights & By-Laws

General legal information only — not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a qualified Malaysian property lawyer. WhatsApp ClickBina for a referral.

What counts as a common corridor under Malaysian strata law?

Under the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) and the Strata Titles Act 1985 (Act 318), common property includes all parts of the strata development that are not comprised in any individual parcel or accessory parcel. This means the following are common property and managed by the JMB or MC:

• Corridors and hallways on every floor;
• Stairwells and staircases;
• Lift lobbies and lift cars;
• Void spaces at corridor ends or above units;
• Fire escape routes and emergency exits; and
• Any unenclosed walkway or circulation space outside a unit’s front door.

The area immediately outside your front door — including any alcove or recessed entry — remains common property unless it is explicitly demarcated as part of your parcel on the approved strata plan. Placing items outside your door is therefore placing them on common property, not in your own space.

By-law 8 — the obstruction rule in full

By-law 8 of the Third Schedule to the Strata Management (Maintenance & Management) Regulations 2015 prohibits proprietors from obstructing common property. Key provisions:

• A proprietor shall not obstruct the lawful use of common property by any other person;
• A proprietor shall not install permanent fixtures on common property;
• Common corridors, stairways, walkways and other designated common areas shall not be used as storage areas for furniture, packages or objects of any kind that obstruct the flow of traffic; and
• Proprietors shall not enclose a part of the common property for personal use (e.g., extending the unit into the corridor).

This is a prescribed by-law binding on every strata development in Malaysia by default. Your JMB or MC may have additional by-laws that specify fines or removal notice periods, but By-law 8 applies regardless.

Management’s power to remove obstructing items

Under Paragraph 20 of the Third Schedule to the 2015 Regulations, the management body (JMB or MC) has the authority to remove or confiscate any property of a proprietor that is obstructing common property, without prior notice.

This is the same “without prior notice” framework as the parking clamping power. Management does not need to warn you before removing obstructing items from a corridor — though in practice, most well-run management bodies will issue a warning first before physically removing items, except where there is a fire safety risk.

Removed items are typically held in a management store. The proprietor is responsible for collecting them, and management may charge a reasonable handling fee. Items abandoned for a specified period (set out in any additional by-laws) may be disposed of.

Common items that cause corridor obstruction disputes

Fire safety — the higher-stakes dimension

Corridor obstruction is not just a by-law dispute — it has serious fire safety implications. Under the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UBBL 1984) and the Fire Services Act 1988, fire escape routes and corridors must remain clear at all times. Management bodies that allow persistent corridor obstruction face potential liability if a fire or emergency occurs and evacuation is hampered.

The Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (Bomba) has authority to inspect and issue orders to clear fire escape routes, independently of the management body. A Bomba visit to your building is a significant escalation that management takes seriously. If obstructions repeatedly block stairwells or fire escape doors, reporting to Bomba (not just the COB) is a legitimate and often effective step.

See also our strata nuisance complaints guide → for related common property issues.

If your neighbour is obstructing the corridor

Follow these steps in order:

1. Photograph the obstruction with date-time stamps. Document what the items are and where they are located (floor, corridor, proximity to your unit or fire escape route).
2. Speak to the neighbour informally if you have a reasonable relationship — many obstruction situations resolve quickly when the resident realises the corridor is common property. Avoid confrontation; keep the tone constructive.
3. Write to management if the informal approach fails or is not appropriate. Cite By-law 8 and attach your photographs. Request management to issue a written warning and, if the obstruction continues, to exercise their Paragraph 20 removal power.
4. Follow up in writing if management does not act within 14 days. Note in your follow-up that the obstruction may constitute a fire safety hazard and that you will be contacting Bomba if it is not resolved.
5. Report to Bomba if the obstruction blocks a fire escape route, stairwell or emergency exit. Bomba has independent authority to act and management usually responds very quickly to a Bomba inspection notice.
6. Escalate to the COB or Strata Management Tribunal if management continues to fail to enforce By-law 8 despite repeated written requests.

If management says your items are obstructing the corridor

If you have received a warning or had items removed:

1. Comply promptly. The legal framework clearly positions the corridor as common property and By-law 8 is unambiguous — resistance is unlikely to succeed and may result in items being disposed of.
2. Collect removed items from the management office as soon as possible. Ask for a receipt and note whether any handling fee charged is reasonable.
3. If you believe management incorrectly classified your items as an obstruction (e.g., a small doormat that clearly does not obstruct the corridor), respond in writing with photos and a measured explanation. Most well-run management offices will apply common sense.
4. If management has disposed of items without adequate notice and in breach of any additional by-law specifying a notice period, you may have a claim at the Strata Management Tribunal for the value of the items lost.

Writing a formal obstruction complaint

A written complaint with evidence is far more effective than verbal reports. Your letter or email to management should include:

• Location of the obstruction (floor, corridor number, proximity to fire escape);
• Description of the items and how long they have been there;
• Photographs with date-time stamps;
• Reference to By-law 8 of the Third Schedule, Strata Management (Maintenance & Management) Regulations 2015;
• A specific request — issue a warning to the resident and remove items if not cleared within [X] days; and
• A 14-day response deadline (or shorter if there is a fire safety risk).

Obstruction severity & appropriate management response

Strata Management Tribunal for corridor disputes

The Strata Management Tribunal (SMT) handles disputes under Act 757 up to RM250,000, including:

• Claims for an order requiring management to enforce By-law 8 against a persistent obstructor;
• Claims for loss of value of items wrongfully disposed of by management without notice;
• Disputes over reasonable handling fees charged for removing obstructing items; and
• Complaints that management is selectively enforcing by-laws (enforcing against some residents but not others).

Read the full filing process in our Strata Management Tribunal guide →. Also see our JMB problems & disputes guide → for related management issues.

Additional by-laws for corridor use

Beyond the prescribed By-law 8, your JMB or MC may have passed additional by-laws at an AGM that:

• Specify fines for leaving items in corridors (commonly RM50–RM200 per notice under additional by-laws);
• Set a defined notice period before management exercises the Paragraph 20 removal power (e.g., 48-hour warning);
• Specify how long removed items will be held before disposal; or
• Permit specific small items (e.g., a single doormat within a defined dimension) immediately outside the unit door.

Always request a copy of your building’s registered by-laws and house rules from management. The by-laws tell you exactly what is and is not permitted and what the enforcement process is in your specific building. See our strata by-laws Malaysia guide → for more.

Step-by-step resolution guide

1. Identify the item and risk level. Is it blocking a fire exit? That is an urgent fire safety issue — contact Bomba as well as management.
2. Photograph with date-time stamps. This is your primary evidence.
3. Approach the neighbour informally (if the situation is not confrontational) — many people simply do not know the corridor rules.
4. Write to management citing By-law 8, attaching photos and requesting enforcement action within 14 days.
5. Follow up in writing if no action. Mention fire safety obligations if relevant, and state you will contact Bomba and the COB if unresolved.
6. Contact Bomba if there is a genuine fire safety risk from blockage of escape routes or stairwells.
7. Lodge a COB complaint if management continues to fail its enforcement duty under Act 757.
8. File at the Strata Management Tribunal for an order requiring management to enforce By-law 8.

Sources & official references

• Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) — Federal Government portal
• Strata Management (Maintenance & Management) Regulations 2015, Third Schedule By-law 8 (obstruction) and Paragraph 20 (removal power) — JMBMALAYSIA.ORG
• Strata Titles Act 1985 (Act 318) — common property definition — JKPTG
• Mah Weng Kwai & Associates, Common Property and Strata Management in Malaysia — mahwengkwai.com
• Fareez Law, Strata Management: Who Is Responsible For Common Property? — fareezlaw.com
• Mondaq / HHQ Law, Common Property and Strata Management in Malaysia — mondaq.com
• Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UBBL 1984) and Fire Services Act 1988 — fire escape route obligations