Govt says strata title must be issued upon delivery of vacant possession

• According to the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, PEMUDAH decided the government should endeavour to protect the rights of condominium and apartment buyers by ensuring that such a practice is in place. 

PETALING JAYA (Sept 28): Strata titles of properties must be handed over together with the delivery of vacant possession, stated the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH) in its meeting on Sept 26.

According to a media release by the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, PEMUDAH decided the government should endeavour to protect the rights of condominium and apartment buyers by ensuring that such a practice is in place. 

To this end, the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur director of lands and mines office has been selected as a benchmark for the implementation of this regulation.

It noted this requirement has been introduced since June 2015 but there are still many developers which have failed to comply.

The meeting, which was co-chaired by Datuk Dr Ir Andy Seo, also stated that agents appointed by the Malaysian Department of Insolvency (MDI) to take over the affairs of housing projects whom the developer has wound up must not charge more than RM500 for the transfer of property ownership for strata titles or grants that have been issued.

This is, however, subject to all documents having been received in order from the buyer. The agent may still impose additional charges, costs and other expenses incurred in events such as having to retrieve lost strata titles.

The PEMUDAH was established on Feb 7, 2007 with the objective “to address bureaucracy in business-government dealings and improve how the government regulates businesses”, said its website.