Sarawak Mulls Longer Housing Warranty Period

25/12/2007 Bernama

KU/CHING, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is considering emulating Peninsular Malaysia in extending to  24 months the warranty period for developers to repair defects in new houses taken possession by buyers.

State Housing Minister Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he would ask the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Sheda) to study the possibility of standardising the warranty period.

The current warranty period in the state is 12 months.

An amendment to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 has allowed the extension of the warranty period for Peninsular Malaysia, from 18 months to 24 months, effective Dec 1 this year.

The Sarawak Housing Ministry wanted Sheda to work with the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) to come up with a framework for implementation of the standard housing warranty period, Abang Johari told reporters after launching the Smart Community in Kampung Kudei Baru, here.

He said, however, that feedback from housing developers in the state indicated that they were not in favour of such an extension.

-- BERNAMA