15/02/2000 The Malay Mail

Are you getting a raw deal from your housing developers?

Your house was delivered very late, there is no Certificate of Fitness (CF) after years of occupying, it was badly-built, the housing project did not follow a development plan, or worse, the developer "disappeared" and abandoned the project?

If you have these or related problems with banks and the authorities, get in touch with the House Buyers Association, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (HBA).

With its motto, Striving for House Buyers’ Rights and Interest, the association aims to be a common platform for house buyers against the developers, authorities, financial institutions or others involved in the industry.

Chairman Datuk Zainuddin Bachik said the pro-tem committee at first wanted to create the House Buyers Association of Malaysia.

However, the law required the committee to appoint representatives in every State before the association can be registered. So, the plan was shelved.

Instead, the Registrar of Societies allowed them to form an association for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur and those from other States could become associate members.

"We are a non-profit and non-political organisation.

We don’t even charge members if we get legal advice for them to handle their problems," he said.

Zainuddin said the HBA will fight for the interest and rights of house buyers.

The HBA, however, has yet to get a telephone number. The mailing address is 3^rd floor, No. 31, Jalan Barat, Off Jalan Imbi, 55100, Kuala Lumpur. Fax number is 03-22601803.

E-mail is rumahku@technologist.com.members

The House Buyers Association, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (HBA) is to be the watchdog of the building and housing industry.

Among its other aims and objectives:

To promote awareness of the legal rights and liberties of members;

To undertake independent authoritative interest, co-ordinate a check-and-balance to protect the rights of members/buyers and to advise members to protect their legitimate interests in the industry.

To make representations and liaisons to maintain close relation with and gain representations on the management of government agencies, local and statutory authorities related to the housing industry.

To help in updating legislations, rules and regulations governing the industry;

To disseminate information of interest to members through newsletter, bulletins, seminars, conferences, lectures, exhibitions, talks, screening of films;

To get feedback and collect data/proposals for the betterment of the housing industry;

To protect and promote the common interest/welfare of members.

HBA secretary Chang Kim Loong said the association has already received several complaints from individual house buyers.

Non-adherence by developers to terms in sales and purchase agreements;

Non-compliance to approved plans;

Departure from plans approved by local authorities, with new amendments to origins plans without consulting and getting consent from buyers;

Shoddy workmanship and sub-standard finish;

Buildings not completed on schedule; and

Developer not prosecuted for their wrong doings.