Strata title delay tops grouse list

The Star 29/01/2003 By Clarence Chua

KUALA LUMPUR: Delays by developers in obtaining strata titles for subdivided buildings remain the main grouse for house buyers, said National House Buyers Association (HBA) secretary-general Chang Kim Loong. 

“Strata titles are the final proof of ownership for the buyers of flats, apartments and condominiums. Developers can make a lot of money if the application is delayed. 

“If no strata titles are issued, developers can set up their own management offices and collect maintenance fees to administer the condominiums they built. 

“Residents cannot appoint their own management committees unless they have obtained their strata titles as this is a requirement under the Strata Titles Act “ he told The Star. 

In its annual tabulation of complaints received last year, which involved a total of 155 housing projects and more then 28,550 owners, the problem of strata titles remained the main grouse for the second year running. 

It accounted for 27% of the complaints, a 1% increase from 2001.  

Management and maintenance came in second with 19% followed by non-application of the Certificate of Fitness (CF) at 14%. 

Other complaints include late delivery and liquidated ascertained damages (LAD) claims (13%), shoddy workmanship and defects (11%), non-adherence to building plans (7%), abandoned projects (6%) and infrastructure problems (3%). 

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) exco member and immediate past president Datuk Eddy Chen, however, reasoned that the problem was with the land office. 

Based on current requirements, developers had no reason to refrain from applying for strata titles, he said 

“Problems relating to strata titles have to be viewed from different time points. Ten, 20 years ago, the policies and problems were different. 

“Now, most developers generally apply for it. The problem is bureaucracy in the issuance of CF and strata title by the land office,” he said.