KUCHING: Housing developers are advised to properly understand the terms and agreement of the sales and purchase for houses to avoid being held responsible for any disputes.
Sarawak Housing Buyers Claims Tribunal president Datuk Maznah Dasmi said this included the proper planning of housing development projects to ensure that they be completed within the stipulated period.
“Planning is very important. Without it, the developers and buyers will not know the involved risks.
“Everything has to be planned ahead of time and the developers should know their roles and responsibilities. When they are unaware, then it becomes a problem,” she said after a hearing here on Thursday (March 18).
She said some of the most common reasons for delays in handing over of houses to buyers were bad weather such as heavy rain, delays in authority inspections as well as Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
However, Maznah pointed out that reasons such as heavy rain should be included as part of the calculated risk of the project.
“We can’t blame the weather because the developers should know the weather conditions and put it in as part of the calculated risk.
“Also when following an agreement, the developer should tell the seller that the house will experience delays in completion so that the buyers will also be informed.
“When they don’t do this, we have to penalise them according to the sales and purchase agreement.”
Maznah said based on agreement facts, the Sarawak Housing Buyers Claims Tribunal would take action based on existing laws.
“Our job is to ensure that the two parties follow the agreement they have agreed upon.”
