Impossible Condition for Strata Title Transfer.

I was very frustrated with the way the authorities handled the strata title issue for Prisma Perdana. For three whole years we (the resident association) were trying to get the strata titles for the owners of the apartment and we had such a hurdle to cross. Nevertheless, it was really an experience working with a group of dedicated volunteers from the residents of Prisma Perdana..............

To the Editor of The Star,

I am an owner of an apartment in Prisma Perdana, Cheras and was a former president of the Prisma Perdana Apartment Resident Association. For four years, the residents and committee members of Prisma Perdana have fought very hard for our rights to get our strata title and to manage our own apartment.

From having to get our certificate of fitness through the assistance of our Cheras MP, YB Tan Kok Wai, to seeking the professional advice from the National Housebuyers Association when our developer, Saraintan Development S/B, wound up and finally being in the process of our strata title transfers, we would have thought that the tough times are over.

It has been the dream of every owner to finally get his title and we even went the extra mile of engaging a lawyer to do the transfer collectively for the residents here in order to speed up the process.

Alas to our dismay, we realized that the conditions imposed by the Official Receiver before approving the transfer was impossible to fulfill. They required each and every owner to show proof that the first owner of the apartment has settled all outstanding amount with the developer. As a fourth owner of the apartment, how on earth am I going to get such document from the first owner when I don’t even know where on earth he is right now. On top of that, as our developer has already wound up, all their files and documents would have already been in the custody of the Official Receiver. Why do they require the document from us?

Besides, if the first owner had not settled his outstanding dues to the developer, how then could the second, third and fourth owner obtain the letter of consent from the developer to get their financing from the bank?
Please, someone from the authority, please change the conditions in the strata title transfer. It’s no wonder strata titles are almost non existent here in our country when the authorities themselves are making it difficult for the owners to do their transfer. No wonder it takes years for the titles to be transferred. So what can I do now????