Police report against builder
New Straits Times 10/2/2006 Fay Angela D’cruz

RAWANG, SELANGOR, Thurs. Residents of Taman Desa Kundang have a strong case against the housing developer for handing over keys when the houses were not ready.

Selangor Housing and Property Board chairman Datin Alina Ahmad said the owners who lodged a report against Kemuncak Realty at the Kundang police station today had been asked to pay RM380 for water and electricity deposits and RM300 as maintenance fees in October last year, and were given house keys although the houses were not ready.

"They have a case, because the architect must certify the houses and everything must be completed before the residents are handed the keys," she said.

"In this case, the contractors wanted to avoid the late delivery fee and handed the keys to the residents on the due date when the houses could not be occupied.

"Water supply was connected this month after the case was highlighted by the media."

Alina added the State Government was supportive of the house buyers’ cause and would help them with the case, including absorbing the lawyers’ fees.

She added that the residents would form an association and pay RM100 each in the event the case went to court.

House owner Nazri Ghazali, 47, said he and his family had been stranded since moving out of their old home only to find their new house not ready for occupation.

Ravichandran Suvanuthan, 38, said the developers were not helpful and had given him the runaround in the last six months. His family had to rely on a nearby well for water before this.