Commercial rates apply for service apartment dwellers

MY wife and I bought a service apartment years ago as we believed our children studying overseas might want to stay on their own. We also thought that our corner unit house will be too difficult for us to upkeep.

When we bought the service apartment 13 years ago, we did not realise that the unit will be considered as a business entity thus electricity and water supply were charged based on commercial rates.

This so called service apartments are basically condos with a small shopping mall and food outlets.

Those who buy service apartments with commercial facilities within must take into consideration that the utilities rates would be much higher.

I rented out my unit and my tenant who has five members in his family told me that he is paying about RM130 for water and RM250 for electricity monthly.

The parking charge for a vehicle is RM80 per month. The maintenance fee plus sinking fund is RM330 monthly for my unit which is 970 sq ft.

As the monthly expenses will be much higher, my wife and I decided not to move into the apartment.

Why do developers classify them as service apartments when they have included some commercial entity in these projects? Is it because it is easier to obtain the permit to build such units?

If developers want to include commercial units to provide amenities to the buyers, can they build a separate annex so that the utilities are charged accordingly.

I hope the authorities can resolve this anomaly which is grossly unfair to those who buy service apartments.

THOMAS FOO

Subang Jaya