Laws on managing condos sought

The  Star 30/8/2005

PETALING JAYA: Dwellers of condominiums and apartments want some sort of laws to manage the common property and resolve problems plaguing them and the management companies and developers.

Many readers sent feedback via e-mail following a report in The Star about the problems with high-rise living that made some of the “dream home” properties look like ghettos.

There were grouses on the non-issuance of strata titles to some properties after 10 years, the presence of snakes in the basement, lack of security, cracks in walls, flooded parking areas and broken elevators.

Other issues raised by the respondents included the non-transparent style adopted by management companies in the handling of funds.

Generally, the respondents wanted laws to compel the residents to pay the maintenance fees, which are used by management companies to provide services.

An e-mail said the law should cover the action that could be taken against defaulters and companies that do not provide the services.

“The Government should pass a law requiring all high-rise unit owners to pay monthly maintenance fees so that the management has greater power to pursue defaulting owners,” said Grace Wong.

“Singapore has this law and they do not have trouble with residents not paying up, and deterioration in the management of apartments.”

Yap, another respondent, said laws that are easy to enforce should be introduced to ensure that developers and owners fall in line.

“It’s such a waste to see good investment developing into ghettos as a result of poor management,” Yap said.

Penang High-rise Unit Owners Association president Dr Tiun Ling Ta said having laws such as the Property Maintenance Bill was crucial to ensure high-rise buildings are properly maintained.

“There are various complaints. Some residents refused to pay the maintenance services while some building managements failed to fulfil their duties.

“The residents, the management corporations and the developers are not aware of their rights and responsibilities,” he said, adding that the Bill that was proposed in 2003 had yet to be tabled in Parliament.

Dr Tiun said the matter should be taken seriously as high-rise building development continued to grow in all states.

“This is not just a problem faced by major cities in Penang, Johor or the Klang Valley. This involves public safety, health and the future of our society,” he said.

Dr Tiun said problems such as unsettled maintenance payments and disappearing sinking funds must be checked.

“At the moment there is no law that says that residents have the right to view the management corporation’s audited accounts,” he said.