Living in an apartment or villa
Shared housing has rules everyone keeps. Breaking them unknowingly leads to conflict with neighbours.
What the management office does
- Charges and settles maintenance fees
- Manages parking — registered and visitor cars
- Runs the recycling area
- Repairs shared facilities — lifts, corridor lights, septic tanks
- Takes complaints — noise, leaks, parking
When in doubt, asking the management office is the fastest route.
Common friction points
- Parking — a set number of cars per household. Check double-parking and visitor rules.
- Inter-floor noise — see noise-issues.
- Recycling — set days and places.
- Lift use when moving — many buildings require notice and a fee.
- Storing things in corridors and stairwells — a fire safety violation.
- Pets — depends on the building's rules.
Steps (when moving in)
- Tell the management office you've moved in.
- Set up direct debit for the maintenance fee.
- Register your car, if you have one.
- Check the recycling day and place.
- Ask for a copy of the residents' rules.
Where to go
- Your apartment's management office
- The housing department of your city or district (fee disputes)
- 1577-1366 Danuri Helpline (interpretation)
- 1345 Immigration Contact Centre
Questions people ask
My maintenance fee is very high. Request an itemised statement from the management office. If it still doesn't add up, consult the district housing department.
There is no parking space. Check the rules with the management office. Using someone else's space escalates disputes.
There's a water leak. Tell the management office first. Shared pipes are covered by the maintenance fee; inside the unit it may fall to the landlord or tenant. Identifying the cause comes first.
My Korean isn't good enough to talk to the office. Use the 1577-1366 three-way interpretation call.
Take care
Do not store things in corridors and stairwells. They block escape routes in a fire and are flagged in safety inspections. Keep bikes and pushchairs in the designated area.
Related
noise-issues · garbage-rules · landlord-dispute · utility-bills
Source
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport www.molit.go.kr / As of 2026-08