Strata title jam

The Sun  03/03/03  By Husna Yusof

Petaling Jaya: A combination of financial and administrative factors have resulted in a massive backlog of applications for strata titles.

In Selangor and the Federal Territory, only slightly more than half the high-rise buildings have been issued with strata titles.

Developers are mainly at fault for failing to pay land survey fees to the government, preferring to rely on surveys by private surveyors.

However, official requirements do not allow private surveys to be used for issuing such titles.

In Selangor and FT, the problem is especially acute because of massive development, and government surveyors cannot copy with the workload.

To correct this situation, said Deputy Land and Cooperative Development Minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong, developers should remit the survey fees as soon as buyers make their payment. Builders must not drag their feet.

At present, the role of the ministry in ensuring that developers comply with building laws is minimal and is exercised through the Land Office only when the buildings are completed and strata titles have to be issued.

"Applications for strata titles can be processed faster if the projects are completed smoothly. They can be issued between 12 and 18 months after completion.

"Our aim is to issue them even before the temporary Certificates of Fitness (CF) to buildings are issued - before the purchasers get vacant possession," said Tan after officiating at a blood donation drive here.

Backlog worsens with staff shortage

But for that to be done, several major changes to policies have to be made.

One hurdle is that developers can only apply for strata titles after permanent Certificates of Fitness are issued.

"We are studying if this should be changed. The CF covers safety and other aspects of building plans and infrastructure.

"Maybe, we would want to do away with this provision," Tan added.

However, he conceded that lack of manpower has also contributed to the backlog.

In many areas, there not enough qualified personnel to undertake such tasks.

There are plans, he said, to get more staff for Land Offices, but they will first have to undergo training at the Land and Survey Institute in Behrang, Perak.