Act 757, Strata Management Act 2013

STRATA MANAGEMENT ACT 2013

THE STAR 13th MARCH 2016 " Defeating the defaulters"

It is a long standing issue related to failure payment of maintenance fees by the owner. The STAR dated 13th March 2016 has again highlighted the irresponsible owners who refuse to make payment for maintenance fees. The bad attitude has not just affect the account of Joint Management Corporation (JMC) but also contribute to payment in arrears to maintenance contractor. In the event this will result in lack of maintenance for the entire building. 

JMC is the management body that establish in line with Act 757, Strata Management Act 2013. JMC will be representing resident community to manage the building and to ensure that best maintenance practice can be implemented to that building. In most cases the failure to settle maintenance fees is the main issue that holding JMC from well performed. 

In this article, I just want to share my experience, attending one JMC meeting in early 2016. I'm representing my self as the owner of one unit apartment. This apartment is completed in year 1996. As at to date, the apartment is recorded fully occupied with 20 years in operation. Surprisingly in the meeting, Mr Chairman is sadly announced that total deffered payment of maintenance fess had been accumulated up to more than RM300,000 (Ringgit Malaysia: Three hundred thousand). It is such a huge amount that sufficient to build one unit single storey bungalow. The maintenance charges only stand at RM38 per month for every unit apartments. It is too cheap in ratio for apartment that enjoying average rental at RM600 to RM700 per month.   This is one out of thousand JMCs, that currently facing the same situation to deal with irresponsible owner. Just imagine, how much total of deffered maintenance payment for entire JMCs in Malaysia. 

It is unfair to let the culprits freely smiling on the road and enjoying similar facilities and services at the apartment in the expand of others.  It is good to hear that, special team will be performed this year to enforce ACT 757, Strata Management Act 2013. The aim is to deal with long standing problem of getting payment for maintenance charges and to enforce strict punishment for irresponsible owner.

I wish to see one day all apartment owner in Malaysia will know their responsibility to make prompt payment for maintenance fees. 

by noramin 04th August 2016 (Thu), 11.00pm.