JMB vs MC
What's the Difference?

General guidance for 2026 — not legal advice. Strata management is governed by the Strata Management Act 2013; for disputes consult your COB or a lawyer. Renovating a strata unit? Ask us →

New strata owners are often confused about who runs the building — the developer, a “JMB” or an “MC”. Under the Strata Management Act 2013 →, management passes through stages, and the body in charge changes as the development matures. Knowing which body is in control tells you who to pay, who to seek renovation approval from, and who to hold accountable.

What is a JMB (Joint Management Body)?

The JMB is an interim body jointly run by the developer and the parcel purchasers. It is established at the first JMB annual general meeting (which the developer must convene, generally within 12 months of delivering vacant possession). The JMB manages and maintains the building and common property until the MC is formed.

The JMB is incorporated as a body corporate and can sue and be sued in its own name. It is governed by its own Joint Management Committee (JMC), elected by parcel purchasers at the AGM.

What is an MC (Management Corporation)?

The MC comes into existence automatically when the strata titles are issued (the strata register is opened). Every parcel owner is a member. The MC is the permanent management body and takes over all duties, assets and funds from the JMB. In mixed developments there can also be subsidiary MCs for separate components (e.g., residential and commercial blocks), each managing its own limited common property.

JMB vs MC compared

Powers compared

How management transitions

1. Developer management from vacant possession — developer controls everything.
2. JMB formed at the first JMB AGM (developer + purchasers) — shared control begins.
3. MC formed automatically when strata titles issue; the JMB hands over and is dissolved.
4. First AGM of the MC elects the management council — owners are fully in charge.

The JMB-to-MC handover

When the MC is formed, the JMB must transfer to it all funds (including the maintenance account and sinking fund), records, assets, contracts and the building’s insurance policies. The JMC prepares a statement of accounts for the handover. This transition is one of the most critical moments in a building’s life — owners should attend the first MC AGM to scrutinise the handover accounts and elect a competent council.

Common problems at handover include a depleted sinking fund (spent during the JMB phase without proper justification), contracts that tie the new MC to unfavourable service providers, and missing building records. Active owner participation at the first MC AGM protects the community’s interest.

• Check that the sinking fund balance is intact and properly transferred.
• Review any service contracts the JMB entered into — are they reasonable and at market rates?
• Confirm that building insurance is renewed in the MC’s name and at the correct reinstatement value.
• Ensure all common-property records, as-built drawings and equipment manuals are handed over.
• Scrutinise the audited accounts — query any unexplained expenditure from the JMB period.

The management committee

Both bodies act through an elected committee (the Joint Management Committee or JMC for a JMB, the Council for an MC) of owners who make day-to-day decisions, subject to the members’ resolutions at general meetings. Committee members must not be in arrears and must not be undischarged bankrupts. The committee elects a chairman, secretary and treasurer from among its members. See management committee guide →.

The quality of the committee directly affects the quality of life in the building. An active, engaged committee controls maintenance standards, security, and how the sinking fund is built up. If the building feels poorly run, joining the committee is often the most effective remedy — once your charges are up to date, any owner can stand for election at the next AGM.

Practical tips for owners

• Find out which body manages your building — ask for the management office contact and confirm whether you are under a JMB or MC.
• Pay charges to the correct body — paying the wrong account does not discharge your debt, and a receipted payment records are your best defence against any dispute.
• Attend the first MC AGM; this is when owner control really begins and you elect the council that will run the building for years.
• Before renovation, get written approval from the current management body and keep a copy on file throughout the works.
• If you are buying a unit still under a JMB, factor in that the MC transition may take time — and that the sinking fund balance at transition matters.
• Attend general meetings and raise issues constructively — owners who engage get better-run buildings.

What it means for you

• You pay charges to whichever body currently manages the building — the receipt is your record.
• Attend AGMs and vote — especially the handover from JMB to MC, when the new council is elected and the accounts are scrutinised.
• Renovation approvals come from the current management body — see strata renovation rules → and strata by-laws →.