Keys collected in January but still can't move into unit

07/04/2006 The Star

BOUGHT an apartment unit in Petaling Jaya. Work on the building appears to have been completed and the owners were issued notices to collect the keys to their units since December last year.
I collected my keys in January but till today, I cannot move into my apartment because the Certificate of Fitness (CF) has not been issued.

Every time we call the developer, we are told the local authorities are delaying the issuance of the CF. When we checked with the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, we were told the developer had not fulfilled some requirements.

The buyers have been paying for their bank loans and also the building maintenance fee to the developer.

Since this project is considered a commercial project (it is a serviced apartment), the buyers will not be protected by the Housing Development Act.

So, we are at the mercy of the developer who does not seem to be in a hurry to resolve the problem since the units have been handed over to the buyers and penalties cannot be imposed on it.

The council should check the record of a developer before approving any project to protect public interest.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry should also look into laws that will protect the interest of buyers/owners of serviced apartments.

We need these laws enforced as soon as possible, since there are many such projects in the country.

Our laws should be such that the keys to a property can only be handed over to the buyer after the CF is issued. What is the point of having the keys when you cannot move into your apartment?


AMIR,
Sitiawan.