News by Datuk Chang Kim Loong

“The unhealthy practice of liquidators imposing exorbitant administrative fees up to 2% or 3% of the purchase price (or in some cases, current market value of the properties) for executing the transfer of individual titles to purchasers has now become a norm.”

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Our contention is, this fee for a standard form has been charged since 2013. Surely, such costs must have been amortised over the years. Must the banks continue to profit from the sale of forms? Isn’t their major source of income derived from giving out loans?

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: The recent news reports on inflating housing prices caused by discounts and rebates have made many sit up and take notice and the National House Buyers Association (HBA) is glad that commercial banks are aware of such discounting practices by developers and its impact to the property market.

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: It is still very difficult to understand why taxpayers’ money is being “sacrificed” to facilitate the niche market buyers and for the benefit of the housing developers, because that is exactly what is being done here.

The Government has heeded the recommendations of the National House Buyers Association (HBA) to close the floodgates and resolve the issue.

Why is this decision so important? And how could this protect the rights of property buyers?

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: In the context of the SMA, the awards and the grounds of awards handed down by the Tribunal can serve as an invaluable source of reference for the public.

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: The National House Buyers Association (HBA) has received numerous complaints where developers had failed to redeem from the onset but instead paid off the redemption sum at the last stages of the schedule of payment.

In a landmark decision on Jan 19, 2021, the Federal Court has delivered its grounds of judgement in respect of the case of PJD Regency Sdn Bhd v Tribunal Tuntutan Pembeli Rumah & Another & 6 Other Appeals. It has finally clarified the legal position as to when time starts to run, in respect of VP of the property.

Datuk Chang Kim Loong: Eventually, it is the purchasers who lose — their houses are taken away; they have to settle their mortgage loans with increasing interests; and they are blacklisted, which means they can never borrow again and never buy houses again!