Condo owners versus management
firms
08/01/2007 The Star By K.W. MAK
Condominiums are a statement of luxury, but behind the facade, residents
complain of the lack of services from their management companies (MCs) while
MCs complain that the residents who refuse to pay management fees are the
ones preventing such services from being provided.
This “chicken and egg” scenario is causing a lot of dissent among
condominium property owners, so much so that a group of such affected owners
decided to form the Condominium, Apartment and High-rise Committee (CAHC) to
champion the rights of condominium owners.
There are no quick fixes to the problems, however, as residents who got
together to fight their issues discover numerous hurdles and obstacles
before them.
“There is a lack of transparency in the way things are done presently and
residents are tired of being taken for a ride,” said CAHC pro tem chairman
Tengku Nazaruddin Zainuddin.
Arguments between residents and MCs are often the result of money matters.
Residents are already paying a premium on their service charges and when
such services are not up to expectations, complaints would ensue.
Most MCs do not make the matter any easier to resolve because they do not
allow the management accounts and the sinking fund accounts to be viewed,
citing excuses that the accounts could not be shown.
“Don’t let them cheat you. Withholding such accounts from residents is a
violation of the Housing and Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966
that many MCs and condominium owners themselves are not aware of,” said CAHC
pro tem assistant chairman Khong Chee Seng.
Section 19 of the Act states that the developer shall provide the purchaser
with a copy of the Annual Audited Accounts for the expenses incurred for the
provision of the said services.
Section 20 (sub-clauses 3 and 4) meanwhile provides for the Sinking Fund
accounts to be made available to the purchaser.
CAHC through the residents associations has used this Act to apply for the
accounts from two MCs of condominiums located in Petaling Jaya and Klang.
However, they have yet to provide a copy to owners.
Part of the reason MCs do not want to disclose their accounts is the fact
that some of them charge management fees illegally.
Prior to the acquisition of the strata title, the developer is either
supposed to manage the condominium or outsource the management to another
person or corporation.
“Any person who undertakes property management practice is required by law
to register with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents,” said
Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents registrar R. Mahaletchumi in
reply to a query on management fee charges.
“Nevertheless, if the condominium concerned has not been issued with strata
titles, then the developer may manage the condo himself, provided he does
not charge property management fees.”
The right to charge such fees lies with those registered with the Board, as
stated in Section 21 of the Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Act 1981.
Developers who outsource the management to a third party must ensure that
the person or company is registered with the Board. |