Protect buyers of commercial properties

07/02/2006 The Star

I AM writing in response to your report, “A 'healthier' housing industry,” (The Star, Feb 5) quoting Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting as saying that his ministry was in the midst of reviewing certain details in the Housing Development Act.

I would like to urge the ministry to also consider the inclusion of commercial properties in the Housing Development Act. This will be a milestone for the industry as many developers are having a tidak apa attitude when it comes to the welfare of the buyers.

It is a far cry from how the 2002 Housing Development Act has protected the interests of residential
housebuyers.

I bought a shoplot which was being built in December 2003. It was handed over to me in August last year.

Under the Housing Development Act, the developers were only allowed to deliver their completed housing units to housebuyers after conditions pertaining to the Certificate of Fitness (CF) were adhered to.

But when the property was handed to me, it had not been fully completed and the developer took five months to send the Certificate of Fitness.

Here, I would like to mention that when we make the decision to buy a commercial property, we either buy it for our own use or for rental.

In other words, it is for generating income and getting the return on investment. But for five months I could not get any return and now that it is after the festive season, the market sentiment is expected to slow down.

In the midst of chasing the developer for the CF, I contacted the enforcement division of the Housing and Local Government Ministry and was told no positive action could be taken except to write an inquiry letter to the developer in response to my complaint.

I hope that the ministry will take proactive steps to improve the “rule of game” in the industry as many of us housebuyers will agree that there has been significant improvement in the 2002 Housing Development Act.

ANNONYMOUS,
Kuala Lumpur.