Seeking end to Belvedere Condo strata title dispute

NST 27/02/2002 By Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan

Unit owners urged to resolve problem with developer Azna Realty 

The owners and developer of Belvedere Condominium in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur, will have to settle their problems with their developers or resort to the courts for a decision.

The dispute over the strata titles arose when the details in their sales and purchase agreement differed from that of their titles.

The additional areas included in the strata titles, in the form of planter pots and ducts, would cost residents from RM15,000 for small units to RM30,000 for large units.

Present to listen to the dialogue between residents and developer was Deputy Minister of Land and Cooperative Development Dr Tan Kee Kwong.

The meeting was held at the condominium recently.

Dr Tan urged the developer , Azna Realty Sdn. Bhd.  to give residents a 50 per cent discount, which meant the owners had to pay from RM7,500 to RM15,000 depending on their units.

"The planter pots are placed outside the units, about 1.2 to 1.5 meters from the windows and owners cannot plant flowers in them even if they wanted to," he said.

Federal Territory Land and Mineral department director Datuk Jasmil Ghani said that once a strata title was issued, it could not be altered unless a court order was obtained.

Dr Tan added that the application for strata title was received in August 1994 and was approved in March 1996. It was registered in January 2000.

The discrepancy occurred during the application process. The first application submitted did not include the planter pots and ducts.

However, when the quantity surveyors was queried on the other matters, the second application was made which included the additions.

Dr Tan urged the residents to form their residents association as soon as possible.

"Later, when one-third of the owners have received their strata titles, a management corporation can be formed to handle all the matters on the condominium, including painting of the building."

The condominium has 47 units, comprising two five-storey blocks.

House Buyers Association representative Datuk Zainuddin Bachik said since the additional areas were not asked for by the buyers, the amount should be waived.

"Why impose extra charge when the residents can't use it?" he said.

Also present were representatives for the residents, Datin Gita Ramachandran and Prof Datuk C.P Ramachandran, and Azna Realty representative Datuk Eugenio Campos.