Articles of law By Bhag Singh (PAGE 02)

1. Missing windows  
   07/08/2001 The Star
   Problems arising from the purchase of landed property continue to occupy the minds of readers. To make matters worse the problem is usually complex and does not involve simple legal issues. A letter received from a reader says: "My sister has a new vacant shoplot. When the keys to the shoplot were handed over, we inspected the place and found that some remedial work needed to be done upstairs. We handed the keys back to the developer and asked that remedial work be done.
    
2. Crumbled dreams of house buyers 
   04/09/2001 The Star
   BUYING a house and moving into it is not a dream come true for everyone. For many house buyers it is the beginning of a period of anguish and disappointment. A local newspaper recently highlighted a case of 40 house buyers who had forked out more than RM20,000 of their life-savings as downpayment for their dream homes. It was for them a big thing and they felt it was worth every sen.
    
3. Extra costs from bank mergers 
   18/09/2001 The Star
   WHEN buying a house, a buyer is often led to the bank’s panel of lawyers who prepare the documentation and the loan and security documents. The way legal fees are structured, a lawyer acting for the bank is entitled to charge a certain fee and the lawyer acting for the borrower is also entitled to charge a certain fee. When the lawyer is acting for the bank and borrower, he is entitled to charge for both though the total is somewhat reduced. 
    
4. Changes to the law 
   30/10/2001 The Star
   WHEN difficulties arise because the laws do not provide adequate protection or remedies, the inadequacies are quickly identified as the immediate causes of the problems. Officials at various levels are quick to point out that changes will be made to the law. This may offer some comfort to the public but may not provide relief to those already disadvantaged by the existing situation. 
    
5. Action against developers 
   18/12/2001 The Star
   A READER says: “I went to a Housing Developer’s sales launch last December and, being impressed by the sales person’s recommendation, I booked an apartment. The cost of the unit was about RM150,000 and I paid a deposit of RM5,000. A few weeks later I went to the lawyer’s office (which was the developer’s lawyer) to sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement (S&P). 
    
6. Summoned to court
   26/02/2002 The Star
   ANY legal process which requires a person to appear before a court is usually started by a summons or some other document or process similar to it. A letter comes into the picture when a summons or such other document has been served and the matter is adjourned. In such cases the person may be informed by the court or a solicitor of the next date.
    
7. When a project stalls
   12/02/2002 The Star
   DESPITE all that is said about laws to protect house buyers, the reality is that many people who enter into agreements to buy houses or other types of property are left high and dry and therefore continue to complain. 
    
8. Leasing and Tenancy
   19/02/2002 The Star
   I have often referred to the words “lease” and “leasing”. In the context of the use of such words terms such “lessor” and “lessee” do come in for consideration. A lessor is a person who owns a property and therefore grants the lease while the lessee is the person to whom the lease is granted.
    
9. Guaranteeing an indemnity 
   12/03/2002 The Star
   THE words "guarantee" and "indemnity" are commonly used. These words are frequently encountered in hire purchase and loan agreements and in many other transactions. However, what these words mean is not always a matter of immediate concern.
    
10. Late delivery of houses 
    19/03/2002 The Star
    IT CAN be very frustrating to have bought a property and yet not get it well beyond the time when it should have been handed over. It is equally frustrating for a house buyer to have to keep on paying a developer even though he thinks he has paid up whatever is due.