Strata title delays
still the main grouse of house buyers
The Star 21/3/2005
PETALING JAYA: Delays in obtaining strata titles for subdivided buildings
continue to be the main grouse of house buyers, said the National House
Buyers Association (HBA).
In its annual tabulation of complaints received last year involving 212
housing projects and 37,810 owners, the problem of strata titles accounted
for 29% of the complaints, up 1% from 2003.
Problems with management and maintenance came in second with 21% followed
by the failure of developers to apply for the Certificate of Fitness (CF)
at 15%.
Late delivery and liquidated ascertained damage claims made up 12% of the
complaints, abandoned projects made up 9%, shoddy workmanship and defects
made up another 9%, non-adherence to building plans formed 3% and
infrastructure problems made up 2%.
For the fourth straight year, house buyers named the delay in getting
strata titles as their main grievance against developers, who are required
to apply for the titles within six months after receiving the CF.
Under Section Eight of the Strata Titles Act 1985, developers who fail to
do this face a fine of RM10,000 to RM100,000 and a further fine of RM100
to RM1,000 for each day that the offence continues to be committed.
HBA secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said strata titles were the final
proof of ownership for buyers of flats and condominiums and that residents
could not appoint their own management committees unless they obtained the
titles.
“If no strata titles are issued, developers can set up their own
management company and collect maintenance fees for the administration of
the apartments and condominiums they built,” he told The Star recently.
He said the Government should make it mandatory for developers to apply
for strata titles simultaneously when they submit their building plans for
approval. |
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