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Condo access-card / fob deposit clear

Return every fob with a receipt before keys go back — lost-card fees do not wait for your flight.

Last reviewed 2026-09-15

Leaving a condo with resident access cards, lift fobs, and carpark tags still on deposit — inventory tokens, return them with dated receipts, and float lost-card fees before MCST handover and movers week.

Inventory every card, fob, and carpark tag

Resident access cards, lift fobs, bicycle-gate tags, and carpark IU holders often sit on a separate deposit from the renovation bond. Managing agents may treat a missing fob as lost even when the unit keys are back. Walk every adult and helper token the week you decide to leave — photograph serial stickers and the deposit schedule from the house rules.

  • List every physical token issued to the unit, including helper spares
  • Photograph serial labels and any estate-stamped deposit schedule
  • Ask management which tokens share one deposit vs per-card fees
Official reference

Return tokens with a dated receipt

Dropping cards in a mailbox without acknowledgement is how lost-card fees appear after you fly. Book a management-office slot, hand every token across the counter, and keep a signed or stamped return list. Deactivate app-based door access the same morning so returned cards cannot be cloned against a still-live login.

  • Return all cards/fobs in one appointment with a written receipt
  • Revoke resident-app door access the same day as physical return
  • Pair visitor QR revoke with /journeys/condo-visitor-qr-exit
Official reference

Lost-card fees vs deposit float

Published lost-card fees can exceed the original token deposit. Keep a small SGD float until management confirms which tokens cleared and which were billed as lost. Do not raid the bank-statement archive week float for sudden fob invoices — keep those cash pots separate.

  • Ask for the published lost-card / replacement fee table in writing
  • Hold SGD float until the access-card deposit line settles
  • Sketch bank-statement archive time on /tools/bank-statement-archive
Official reference

Helper and kids' spare tokens

FDW and school-age spares are easy to miss in a suitcase. Confirm with the helper handoff timeline so a spare lift fob is not left in a locker or returned late. Kids' bicycle-gate tags often live on school bags — clear those the same week as school locker clear if that path applies.

  • Collect helper spares before any mid-month cancel or transfer
  • Check kids' bags for bicycle-gate or pool tags
  • Align with /journeys/helper-handoff-exit when that playbook is in play
Official reference

Same-week stack with parking and movers

Access-card return, visitor parking cancel, and mover lift booking often land in one fortnight. Sequence so physical tokens return while the management office is open, then visitor-bay cancels, then movers — so packing day does not leave a fob deposit open.

  • Put card return, visitor-bay cancel, and lift booking on one calendar
  • Pair visitor parking clear with /journeys/condo-visitor-parking-clear
  • Keep one adult free for management-office hours on return day
Official reference

Archive receipts for overseas follow-up

Deposit refunds and lost-card invoices can post after you leave Singapore. Keep return receipts, fee schedules, and any estate email threads in a folder your overseas inbox can still open. Forwarding addresses only help if that inbox still works after SIM change.

  • Export return receipts and fee PDFs to cloud + offline backup
  • Confirm the forwarding email on the MCST / agent ticket
  • Note which adult holds the estate-app login before Singpass changes
Official reference

This playbook is editorial guidance, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current IRAS and MOM requirements before you act.

Related: Bank statement archive · Condo MCST exit · Condo visitor parking clear