KUALA LUMPUR: Delays by developers in obtaining strata titles for subdivided buildings remain the biggest problem for house buyers for a third year running, statistics compiled by the National House Buyers Association (HBA) revealed.
In its annual tabulation of complaints received last year, which involved a total of 187 housing projects and more than 33,722 owners, the problem of strata titles accounted for 28% of the complaints, a 1% increase from 2002.
Problems with management and maintenance came in second (19%) followed by late delivery and liquidated ascertained damages (LAD) claims (15%).
Other complaints include failure by developers to apply for the Certificate of Fitness (CF) at 13%, abandoned projects (10%), late delivery and shoddy workmanship and defects (7%), non-adherence to building plans (4%), and infrastructure problems (4%).
Under section 8 of the Strata Titles Act 1985 (Amendment 2001) developers must apply for the strata titles within six months after receiving the CF or face a fine of not less than RM10,000 but not more that RM100,000 and to a further fine of not less than RM100 or not more than RM1,000 for each day the offence continues to be committed.
“If no strata titles are being issued the developer can set up their own management company and collect maintenance for the administration of their flats, apartments and condominiums they built,” HBA se-
cretary-general Chang Kim Loong said.
“Owners cannot appoint their own management corporation unless they have obtained their strata titles,” he said at the HBA office during their weekly meet-the-public session here on Saturday.
Lee Wing-ka, a 53-year-old Silver Hair programme retiree from Hong Kong, said he bought an apartment in Summer Villa, Subang Jaya and had been waiting for his strata title for two years.
Sada Mohanan, 55, and Palamy Murugam, 49 from Old Klang Road said they bought their Seri Sentosa apartments in 1990 and were still waiting for their titles.
On another matter, nine house buyers of Puncak Seri Kelana condominiums donated RM10,000 to the HBA after they successfully obtained the LAD from the developers Puncakdana Sdn Bhd.
Did you find this article insightful?
