Builder’s name change delays strata titles

The Star 5/6/2004 By ESTHER CHANDRAN

THE PLAZA Damas Shop Offices Owners Association has been advised to give developer Malaysia Land Properties Sdn Bhd time to sort out administrative land matters with government agencies before strata title can be issued. 

Segambut MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong who mediated a discussion between the association and the developer on Thursday said owners had voiced unhappiness over the late issuance of strata title. 

He told them that the delay was due to the developer changing its name from Vintage Fame Sdn Bhd to Malaysia Land Properties on the land title. 

Dr Tan said the Federal Territory Land and Mines Department had indicated the land title would be ready in a month. 

“Once the land title is issued in the name of Malaysia Land Properties, the developer can apply for strata titles which may take up to eight to 12 months before they get it,” Dr Tan said. 

Dr Tan also asked the developer to consider lowering administration charges for transfer of property, saying the amount (1% of the property value) charged by the developer was too high. 

He said the ceiling price decided at a recent seminar on land matters for transfer of property, still under the developer’s name, was RM500. 

“If the property is valued at RM1mil, then 1% of the figure is RM10,000 and I feel this is too much,” Dr Tan said. 

With regards to lowering the maintenance charges from 25 sen to eight sen per sq ft, Dr Tan asked that the company’s property managers hold a meeting with the owners to explain the charges. 

The association’s president, Bertie Everet Fernandez, said buyers felt the 25 sen charge per sq ft was unreasonable because there was no lift, rubbish chute, swimming pool, tennis court or functions room. 

“We have asked for maintenance to be reduced because these are three-and-a-half-storey shop lots with a driveway, corridor, security and lighting and nothing else. 

“Twenty five sen is certainly unreasonable because at Desa Sri Hartamas, the maintenance is only six sen at the shop units,” Fernandez said. 

However, property maintenance general manager D. Gnana said services provided included security guards, lighting, cleaning services, sewage and disposal system, fire safety equipment and others, thus the amount was justifiable. 

Gnana said owners could look through the list of services rendered and the cost incurred by the maintenance office and decide which services they did not need. 

“We can sit down and look at the bills to come to a solution on what kind of services the owners want. 

“Currently, only 40% of maintenance charges are paid,” Gnana said.