Educating housebuyers
on their rights 01/05/2001 NST
Property and Investment Deal 2001 (PAID) is the first property fair to have
the support and participation of the House Buyers Association (HBA) Organised
by Messe Lingk (M) Sdn Bhd, the PAID 2001 roadshow was launched by last Friday
by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Senator Datuk M..Kayveas at
Subang Parade.
Solution to home ownership woes
01/05/2001 MM
The House Buyers Association (HBA) stands as a beacon for purchasers who find
their homes far from satisfactory. Their primary objective is to create a
level playing field between the developers and the housebuyers, writes Devasahayam
Selvan.
Setting his house in order
01/05/2001 MB
ONE OF the first things that Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did on assuming the
chairmanship of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPN) on Aug 1, 2000 was to
initiate change. He changed the logo, formulated a concrete set of objectives
and defined the company's focus. Being at the helm of a company entrusted
with building comfortable homes for the lower income group in the country
is no easy task. But Zahid got straight down to business, incorporating his
vast and valuable experience in the banking and corporate world into SPN.
Menang to focus on project
after revamp 02/05/2001 BT
PROPERTY developer, Menang Corp (M) Bhd will concentrate on developing its
Seremban 3 project after completing its corporate restructuring exercise within
the next three months. Its group managing director, Datuk L K Shun hopes the
corporate restructuring exercise would be completed by July, so that the company
could embark on its 320ha township development project. After the completion
of the corporate exercise, Shun said Menang expected sales from its housing
projects this year at RM37.4 million, contributing some 35 per cent to its
revenue.
No right to exist
04/05/2001 NST-PROP
THE problems plaguing the owners of about 1,100 condo units in the Venice
Hill Condo and Golf Resort project in Ulu Langat, Selangor, has been further
exacerbated with the recent discovery that the project is illegal as it sits
on agricultural land. In order to undertake development, a developer is required
to pay a land conversion premium to the relevant local authority prior to
commencing construction. In Venice Hill's case, that was to have been done
prior to 1992 - some nine years ago - but until today, the premium for the
20.55 ha site has yet to be settled.
Strata living standoff
04/05/2001 NST-PROP
WARNING: reading e-mails the first thing in the morning could ruin your mood
for the whole day, especially if the subject is the sore issue of paying for
stratified property maintenance, written by a Doc Esvee of Petaling Jaya.
No hello, no pleasantries. Doc's immediate demand was that I take a stand,
in a tone akin to a Boot Camp commandant. Are you for the developer, or the
long-suffering owners, he demanded to know.
Defect buster at large
04/05/2001 NST-PROP
THE rate at which we are building and the steps we have taken to encourage
homeownership are unfortunately, not matched by any corresponding effort to
ensure that the homes we buy are free of defects and fit for living. In many
cases, buyers are not in a position to spot or notice anything other than
the most obvious of defects. So what commonly transpires is that the initial
joy of at owning a home is marred by the appearance of defects that if the
buyer is unlucky, happens after the expiry of the defect liability period.
Building for balance
04/05/2001 NST-PROP
IF you happen to be familiar with the Kelana Jaya area in Petaling Jaya, you
would agree that the area has evolved tremendously over the past three decades.
It is a mature well-planned township containing business centres, amenities
and a comprehensive transportation infrastructure, not to mention residential
estates with a conducive living environment that holds an attraction for secondary
property investors. You may or may not be familiar with the fact that much
of the responsibility for the area's development was given to Perbadanan Kemajuan
Negeri Selangor (PKNS), the development arm of the Selangor state government,
which was also commissioned to create the state's new capital, Shah Alam,
more than three decades ago.
Defects in his new apartment
04/05/2001 MM
PUA bought an apartment in Pangsapuri Kenanga, Puchong, from the first owner
last June, and moved in a month later. Since then, he has discovered a number
of defects in the unit.
Report progress or risk jail
04/05/2001 NST-PROP
DEVELOPERS have been given a final warning to submit progress reports on their
projects and financial standing to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
or face a fine or jail sentence.
30 lodge reports against developer
06/05/2001 The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 30 purchasers of houses at a project at the 18th kilometre,
Jalan Cheras, lodged police reports against the developer yesterday for allegedly
cheating them of their deposits.
Could you please wait for 15
years ... 07/05/2001 MM
THE endless waiting of 500-odd would-be apartment owners of the City Homes
apartments in Medan Duta is passing into legends. For, it never took off,
nor are there any signs of it being revived. In what seems to be a uniquely
infamous case of its kind, the ill-fated 514 prospective house-owners booked
their houses way back in 1986 after paying the 20 per cent down payment. The
houses were then priced between RM45,000 and 80,000 at 1986 prices.
`Low-cost' condominium 07/05/2001 MM
THE posh housing project was trumpeted as among the first condominium living
in the city. But after 11 years, some residents of Palm Courts in Brickfields
feel they are living in `low-cost flats'.
Condo dwellers show ire
09/05/2001 NST-CITY
RESIDENTS of Palm Court Condominium in Brickfields, displeased with the attitude
of the management company and poor maintenance services, showed their displeasure
by holding a peaceful demonstration last Saturday. Residents occupying the
676 units joined in the demonstration, led by the Palm Court Owners and Residents
Association committee members.
Amendments to give Strata Title
Board more legal bite 09/05/2001 MM
RESIDENTS in high-rise buildings will soon be able to seek recourse for their
grouses through the proposed Strata Title Board. Deputy Land and Co-operative
Minister Dr Tan Kee Kwong said the functions of the board is similar to those
found in Singapore and Australia.
Panel to review building
bylaws 09/05/2001 The Star By V. Chandrasekaran
Gurun: The Uniform building Bylaws 1984 may be amended to enforce the optimum
use of structural steel in buildings, Housing and Local Government Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said yesterday.
Exemption of stamp duty on
property ends on Dec 31 10/05/2001 The Star
THE exemption of stamp duty on purchases of property took effect on March
28 this year, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chan Kong Choy.
Glad that auction is off 11/05/2001 MM
ABOUT 50 house-buyers are relieved. Reason: An auction at the Ulu Langat Land
Office in Bandar Baru Bangi on a piece of land at the 18km Jalan Cheras yesterday
was postponed indefinitely.
House-buyers lose deposits
11/05/2001 MM
A REAL estate negotiator who has gone missing is believed to have cheated
many potential house-buyers of their hard-earned deposit money. The victims
from suburban Klang Valley were first-time house buyers of three low-cost
housing schemes in Taman Sri Puchong, Section 20, Shah Alam and Kampung Jawa,
Klang.
Proper planning can help reduce
service charge collection woes 12/05/2001 NST
THE Housing Developers (Control and Licensing) Act, 1966 only sets out the
legal framework for the maintenance of common property and the collection
of service charges. It offers no prescription on how the common areas of a
building are to be managed and maintained nor the services that ought to be
provided. Neither does it offer any guidelines on the cost elements of service
charges.
Company refutes allegations
by residents 15/05/2001 MM
SOME residents liken Palm Courts condominium in Brickfields to low-cost flats
because facilities are not up to the mark. Ramal Properties Sdn Bhd, the company
which maintains the condominium, however, beg to differ.
Bukit Cerakah Development is
now Puncak Alam Housing 16/05/2001 BT
BUKIT Cerakah Development Sdn Bhd, the developer for the Puncak Alam new township
announced its change of name to Puncak Alam Housing Sdn Bhd yesterday. The
announcement ceremony was officiated by Deputy Housing and Local Government
Minister Datuk M Kayveas in Shah Alam.
Tackling woes of Sentul Raya
buyers 16/05/2001 MM
SOME 400 people who bought into the Sentul Raya project have set their minds
on three strategies in dealing with it. They have decided on negotiating,
lobbying and legal action.
Service charges: What it's
made up of 17/05/2001 MM-CLAS
THE convenience of strata living comes with a price. If you are lucky it is
just the monthly service charge that you have to pay every month. But do you
know exactly what the service charge you are paying comprises? Your sale and
purchase agreement should give you an idea as to the common facilities available
and the services being rendered in your development. Refer to the second schedule
of your agreement for this. Based on this you will be able to ascertain if
you are receiving the full complement as agreed upon by you and the developer.
Status quo to remain pending
hearing of plaintiff's application 18/05/2001 The Star
A High Court yesterday ordered a geophysicist's application for an injunction
compelling a developer to deliver vacant possession of his condominium unit
to be maintained status quo.
Financing an illegal purchase
18/05/2001 NST-PROP
ON January 5, 2001 the Kuala Lumpur High Court handed down a decision which
I think should be read by everyone involved in the housing industry, and more
so by senior management in financial institutions. It is the decision of Kamalanathan
Ratnam J. in Arab Malaysian Finance Berhad v. Chan Sai Mee 2001 2 AMR 1743,
which has just been published in my favourite law report. If the name of the
case does not ring a bell with you, how about the Venice Hill Condominium
and Golf Resort project? Right, you have heard of it.
Making trust priority no.1 18/05/2001 NST-PROP
DEVELOPERS must make a concerted effort to erase the negative image in the
industry caused by their errant peers in order to win buyers' confidence and
trust.
Call for government to intervene 18/05/2001 NST-PROP
GOVERNMENT intervention to resolve the problems faced by house buyers because
of errant developers is long overdue. Our report on the problems of the Venice
Hill development (PropertyTimes, April 27) brought on a deluge of responses
from readers/buyers the length and breadth of the country recounting the problems
they face with their purchases.
Perak offers low-cost houses
to victims of abandoned projects 18/05/2001 BT
MORE than 150 buyers of a low-cost housing project in Slim River, who are
still waiting for their houses after 14 years, were offered similar units
in Proton City, near Tanjong Malim, by the Perak Government. State executive
counsellor Datuk G. Rajoo said in Ipoh yesterday they will be given a 10 per
cent discount to purchase a three-room house priced at RM35,000 in a project
to be undertaken by the Perak State Economic Development Corp (SEDC).
Where's the road reserve?
18/05/2001 MM
WHEN a developer stopped erecting poles for hoardings to announce a new project
near Persiaran Syed Putra 5, off Jalan Syed Putra, many residents there were
relieved. But when the developer started putting up poles again at a road
reserve there last week, residents are now questioning City Hall for approving
the building of several bungalows.
Move to revise National Housing
Policy 18/05/2001 Business Times
The National Housing Policy will be revised to address the need to better
match demand for and development of various types of residential properties,
especially with regards to low-cost homes.
Auction called off at eleventh
hour 19/05/2001 NST
THERE was relief among the eight buyers of Taman Lingkaran Nur houses in Cheras
at the Hulu Langat Land Office on May 10 when a scheduled public auction of
the land on which their units were to have been built was called off at the
eleventh hour. The move to auction the 1.51ha leasehold site on which 107
single-storey terrace units were to be built in phase two of the project,
was brought about by the chargee of the land, United Merchant Finance Bhd,
to foreclose on the property because the developer, Saktimuna Sdn Bhd, defaulted
in their instalment payments to the financier.
Ask builders for more time to secure loan, buyers urged 21/05/2001 The Star By Clarence Chua
KUALA LUMPUR: The House Buyers Association has urged buyers to ask developers
for more time to secure a loan when buying property whose construction is
underway.
New clause on end-financing in S&Ps soon
22/05/2001 The Star
Kuala Lumpur: It will soon be mandatory for sales and purchase agreements
to have a clause telling purchasers to consult their end-financiers before
buying a house.
An end to strata
property woes? 22/05/2001 MM-CLAS
CONDOMINIUM owners and perhaps even potential buyers of strata title properties
wait with bated breath for the tabling of the Building and Common Property
(Maintenance and Management) Bill. But given the history of the Bill that
is meant to redress the problems of ownership and management of strata properties,
owners and potential buyers will not be able to let out a collective sigh
of relief just yet. The Bill that was supposed to have been tabled in Parliament
as far back as in 1997, failed to make it to the Dewan Rakyat during its previous
sitting at the end of last year. The current sitting of Parliament however
did see the passing of the amendments to the Strata Titles Act 1985 which
also goes in some way to alleviating the problems faced by this segment of
the market. But until the Bill's passage through Parliament actually takes
place, condominium owners and property managers will have to deal with the
problems of managing the building the best they can. Though the efforts to
draft and table the Bill is to be lauded, any delay only serves to emphasise
the increasingly pressing need for it due to a higher occupancy of stratified
units as land especially in land scarce urban centres. Coupled with a greater
awareness of the need for such properties to be well-managed, delays will
also accentuate the inadequacies of other existing legislation governing homeownership
and property management.
No stamp duty for units bought
from developers 23/05/2001 The Star
PENANG: Housebuyers will only be eligible for stamp duty exemption on properties
if they purchase their units directly from developers. According to the Inland
Revenue Board, the incentive only applied to transactions between purchasers
and developers registered under the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association
(Rehda).
Getting housing policies right
24/05/2001 NST
House ownership and supporting the housing developers and related industries.
In order to promote house ownership, the Government must recognise that the
quality of houses and the price of the houses must be right.
Collapsed retaining wall still
not repaired 24/05/2001 NST
RAWANG, Wed. - Several sections of a retaining wall in Taman Bukit Beruntung
which gave way about three months ago - severely disrupting a monsoon drain's
flow - have yet to be repaired. The monsoon drain which flows into Sungai
Rawang, fronts a row of single-storey houses.
Close watch on project sites 24/05/2001 NST
KUALA KUBU BARU, Wed. - Developers in Selangor had better buck up. A newly-established
task force will visit project sites weekly to ensure compliance with environmental
mitigating measures. The task force can decide if a developer should pay for
loss of property and other damage when floods or mudslides occur, said State
Executive Councillor for Housing, Local Government, Squatters and the Environment
Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan today.
Sad state of Lumba Kuda flats
24/05/2001 NST-CITY
ENDLESS PROBLEMS ... there is a long list of problems faced by residents of
Lumba Kuda flats in Johor Baru. If it is not the broken lifts, and vandalised
telephone booths, stairways and walls or uncollected garbage, it is the clogged
drains emitting unbearable stench.
Enforcement the key 25/05/2001
By Nicholas Mun
Legislation alone will not solve the problems of strata management.
18 peratus pembeli lewat terima
rumah 25/05/2001 BH
KUALA LUMPUR, Khamis - Kajian Persatuan Pembeli Rumah Wilayah Persekutuan
dan Selangor (HBA) mendapati, 18 peratus daripada 10,000 pembeli di negara
ini lewat menerima rumah daripada tempoh dijanjikan manakala 17 peratus lagi
tidak memperoleh= sijil layak menduduki (CF).
Lembah Subang flats needs council
action 25/05/2001 NST-CITY
THE Petaling Jaya Municipal Council has yet to identify a suitable company
to take over management services at the Lembah Subang low-cost flats. Three
months ago, the council had announced that it had decided to relinquish managing
the flats as it did not have sufficient manpower to supervise and manage services.
Proper enforcement will redress
problems 25/05/2001 NST-PROP
THE proposed Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act
eagerly awaited by property developers and parcel owners alike will only be
effective in addressing strata property management woes if it is properly
enforced. Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) president
Datuk Eddy Chen Lok Loi said: "The concern is not whether the proposed Act
can address management and maintenance problems. What is crucial is the enforcement
of the Act."
Honestly folks
25/05/2001 NST-PROP
CREATIVE but honest advertisements for housing projects may soon become the
norm once the Ministry of Housing and Local Government starts clamping down
on developers who put in ambiguous and non-factual statements in their marketing
materials.
Giving condo owners a say over
fees for maintenance 25/05/2001 The Star
Buyers of condominium and apartment units will be able to decide on the rate
of maintenance fees under the new Building and Common Property Bill to be
tabled soon.
Legal aid for housebuyers
26/05/2001 NST
THE problems plaguing the housing industry are many, judging by reports over
the years of unfulfilled promises to buyers, late delivery of houses, shoddy
workmanship and a host of other complaints. While some of these can be settled
directly with developers, there are other disputes of a more contentious nature
which require legal expertise or the help of the Housing and Local Government
Ministry to resolve them. Far too often, the public's general perception of
government agencies and departments is that of an inefficient bureaucracy
even though the authorities have been trying to improve their image. Resorting
to legal recourse can be a costly affair in terms of time and money, especially
for people from the lower income group who have put their life savings into
buying their first property. The legal process of untangling their problems
can be unwieldy and many disgruntled buyers are unable to shoulder the burden
of protracted litigation. Bereft of government intervention, they have had
to grit their teeth and grin through it all.
Developer to rectify defects
in homes 26/05/2001 MM
BUYERS of the Kota Kemuning, Phase RP4A1 housing scheme have
been assured that the defects to their houses will be corrected in time for
them to move in. The assurance came from the developer, Hicom-Gamuda Development
Sdn Bhd, which said that they have already started remedial work to rectify
the defects.
DPM: Developers must keep their word 28/05/2001 NST
BUTTERWORTH, Sun. - The tendency among housing developers to
forget their social obligations must be discouraged by State Governments.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the number of cases in which buyers had
been caused undue hardship by errant developers, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said:
Developer questioned on strata
titles 28/05/2001 MM
YOU did not address the main issues. Palm Court condominium
unit owners and residents have criticised developer Ramal Property for allegedly
evading their most important question: why it did not apply for strata titles
early.
House buyers to take legal
action 28/05/2001 MM
THE 40 buyers of Kota Kemuning Phase RP4A1 houses are getting
their lawyers ready. They plan to seek legal redress against developer Hicom-Gamuda
Development, which they claim has been very insensitive to their needs for
quality housing.
Residents build their own guardhouse
28/05/2001 The Star
SEREMBAN: Fed up with the increasing number of thefts in their
neighbourhood, Rasah Kemayan 1388 residents pooled their resources to construct
a two-storey guardhouse of their own.
No CFs for projects on ex-estate
land if low-cost homes not provided 28/05/2001 The
Star
CERTIFICATES of Fitness (CFs) will not be issued to housing
projects in former estate land if developers do not provide housing for workers.
Selangor Housing for Estate and Mine Workers Committee chairman Datuk K. Sivalingam
said developers must give priority to providing housing for former estate
workers.
Low-cost flats go abegging 29/05/2001 NST
SEREMBAN, Mon. - Developers here are finding it difficult to
sell their low-cost flats despite the huge number of people registered under
the State's low-cost housing programme. A reason for this, according to Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Mohamad Isa Abdul Samad, was that some potential buyers were
a choosy lot.
Act to oversee condition of
buildings 29/05/2001 NST
LAND and Cooperative Development Ministry parliamentary secretary
Robia Kosai said a Bill on the Commissioner of Building Act would be tabled
by the Housing and Local Government Ministry soon. She said the Act would
enable the authorities to oversee the condition of buildings.
Strata Title Board members recommended
by state governments 29/05/2001 Utusan Online
KUALA LUMPUR May 28 - Other than the chairman and deputy chairman,
the selection of all 20 members of the Strata Title Board was based on the
recommendations of the state governments, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Pembeli rumah diminta lapor
segera kerosakan 29/05/2001 BH
SHAH ALAM, Isnin - Pembeli rumah Bandar Baru Puncak Alam di
sini, diminta melaporkan segera sebarang kerosakan rumah kepada pemajunya,
Puncak Alam Housing Sdn Bhd (Puncak Alam) untuk diperbaiki segera bagi memastikan
mereka memperolehi rumah berkualiti seperti dijanjikan. Pengerusi Eksekutif
Puncak Alam, Tan Sri Rozali Ismail, berkata komitmen yang diberikan terhadap
projek itu selaras dengan tanggungjawab dan imej baru Puncak Alam yang mengalami
penstrukturan semula syarikat kira-kira dua minggu lalu.
Puncak Alam
saman kontraktor sebab 300 rumah kena roboh 29/05/2001
HM
SHAH ALAM: Puncak Alam Housing akan mengambil tindakan mahkamah
terhadap kontraktor yang gagal menepati spesifikasi binaan hingga menyebabkan
300 rumah di Bandar Baru Puncak Alam, dekat sini, diroboh dan dibina semula.
Legal clinic for house buyers
29/05/2001 MM-CLAS
DISGRUNTLED house buyers can now get legal advice through the
legal aid clinic set up by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Minister
Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the monthly clinic held at the Ministry's enforcement
and monitoring division will "especially benefit buyers from the low-income
group"
190 Housing
projects abandoned 30/05/2001 The Star
There are now a total of 190 abandoned housing projects according to records
with the Housing and Local Government Ministry, its minister Datuk Seri Ong
Ka Ting said. He said that as of December a total of 514 housing projects
were abandoned throughout the country. Selangor topped the list with 80 cases
followed by Perak with 78.
40 ancam saman pemaju
30/05/2001 HM
SHAH ALAM: Seramai 40 pembeli rumah teres berkembar Fasa RP4 A1, Kota Kemuning
di sini, merancang mengambil tindakan terhadap pemaju perumahan itu yang didakwa
mengabaikan keselamatan penghuni. Penasihat Undang-undang, Persatuan Pengguna-Pengguna
Subang dan Shah Alam (Cassa), Datuk Dr Jacob George, berkata ia berpunca daripada
sikap lepas tangan pemaju membaiki keretakan dan kerosakan teruk di unit kediaman
itu.
Rumah retak dapat perhatian
31/05/2001 HM
KAJANG: Kebimbangan 32 penghuni Jalan 19, 20 dan 21, Taman Bukit Mewah di
sini sejak Disember 1999 yang mengalami masalah rumah retak mendapat perhatian
kerajaan negeri. Timbalan Menteri Besar, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, berkata
mesyuarat akan diadakan esok bagi mencari penyelesaian terakhir.
