𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 – 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞

Urban housing in Bhutan is undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation. The shift from individual homes to stacked flats in multi-owner buildings is not merely architectural. It is a social and legal evolution that demands urgent attention. What has grown unchecked in recent years is now showing visible signs of structural and administrative stress. The rise in shared living spaces has far outpaced the policies needed to govern them.

Buildings with multiple owners present a unique governance dilemma. The ownership of walls may be private, but the foundations, pipelines, staircases and electrical systems are collective. And when collective responsibility is ignored, deterioration begins. The result is a kind of urban erosion, where buildings still under a decade old show signs of neglect, and residents struggle to agree on who is responsible for what. Left unresolved, this will not only reduce the lifespan of buildings but also deepen social tensions among neighbours who share space but not a common understanding of duty.

The real estate market has already adapted to the growing demand for vertical housing. Unfortunately, governance has not. Many buildings today operate in a legal vacuum. Once the last flat is sold, developers often disengage, and owners are left to navigate complex technical and financial issues on their own. In some cases, even basic provisions like drainage or adequate parking are insufficient or poorly planned. With no formal management body in place, disputes are inevitable and maintenance is sporadic at best.

This is not a problem of infrastructure alone. It is also about a missing culture of shared responsibility. Too often, residents view their flats as independent homes, ignoring the reality that their daily safety and comfort depend on what happens outside their front door. Until there is a collective sense of accountability, rules alone will not bring about meaningful change.

The introduction of a legal framework is overdue. However, the real test will lie in implementation. Creating associations among homeowners cannot be a checkbox exercise. It must be backed by practical guidance, support from authorities and a willingness to enforce penalties for neglect. The law should also hold developers accountable beyond the point of sale, especially in ensuring the quality of shared infrastructure and transparency during handovers

Urban housing will continue to expand vertically. This is a structural necessity given land scarcity and population growth. But that vertical expansion must be matched by an upward rise in planning, legal accountability and social cohesion. Buildings are more than steel and concrete. They are shared environments that reflect how well a society manages cooperation, fairness and foresight.

The moment to act is now. Bhutan must avoid repeating the mistakes of rapidly urbanising countries where poorly maintained residential towers have become symbols of regulatory failure. There is still time to build a different future- one where shared living also means shared care, and where urban progress is measured not just in how many flats are built, but in how well they are lived in.