House buyers need to take precautions
26/09/2003 Daily Express
 
Kota Kinabalu: House buyers have been advised to take the necessary precautions before entering into any transaction with developers to avoid unnecessary inconveniences.

Making the call in a statement here Thursday, Sabah Housing Controller Datuk Haji Ujang Haji Sulani, in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, said they should study the background of the developers and the nature of projects being undertaken, and whether the developers are licensed.

They should also strive to understand the provisions of the Housing Enactment and relevant regulations, so they do not get taken in by the rosy picture usually painted by the developers themselves, he added.

Fine print contained in any agreement must also be taken into account before buying any property, he said.

However, in Sabah, there are provisions that allow the implementation of housing projects without requiring a developers licence, especially for the Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB) and established cooperatives, Ujang said.

Such housing projects do not lie under the jurisdiction of the State Housing Controller, and buyers will be taking a risk when buying such units, he added.