Endless woes from buyers not getting their certificate of fitness, defective homes, delays, or under and over-supply of certain types of homes.

Taking charge of overseeing the industry is tough.

Since taking over the Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting has been taking some positive steps to address some of these problems.

The question that is being asked is whether such moves would be enough?

Some recent statements include:
Stricter requirements for developers where financial ability to carry out a project must be shown or by producing a bank guarantee.
Stepping up monitoring to enable the Ministry to identify from the earliest possible stage, problematic projects.
Builders must submit progress report, Including a statement of account, every six months for monitoring purposes.Local authorities reminded of the need to adhere to guidelines for CF issuance as set by the Cabinet and not to impose their own guideline, such as additional requirements like landscaping or drainage.

While developers must provide social and recreational facilities, they are not burdened with providing all but the primary ones, and the Government will provide the secondary facilities, including clinics and fire and rescue stations.

Developers should keep up with the latest environmental requirements when undertaking housing projects to ensure sustainable growth.

Increase in the price structure for low-cost housing from between RM48,000 and RM60,000 to between RM48,000 and RM70,000. Date of implementation is not decided as yet, It is an incentive to spur the commercial sector into building more low and medium-cost units.

The Housing developers Act is in the stage of a amendment.

One thing is for sure in that those in the industry can expect more fine-tuning of rules and regulations for a more healthy and vibrant outlook for both developers and property buyers.