Indonesians not comfortable living in flats<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Psychological hurdles are still the main reason
\nwhy Indonesians are reluctant to live in apartments, Yan Mogi of
\nthe Indonesian Real Estate Association says.<\/p>\n
"Next to the high cost, what people commonly ask is: 'where is
\nthe land that I bought?'" Yan told reporters at this office
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Pointing out that the city has built about 18,000 apartments
\nin the middle and upper categories, Yan said that the way out of
\nthis problem is to give clear information and encouragement to
\nthe public about the collective ownership of the land apartments
\nare built on and the service given by developers.<\/p>\n
"We have to let them see, try and be sure about living in
\napartments," he said.<\/p>\n
One method of doing so, he said, would be by airing a
\ntelevision soap opera about life in an apartment, which he is now
\npreparing.<\/p>\n
The government introduced apartments in 1985 as the
\noverpopulated capital city needed high-rise buildings to overcome
\nthe limited availability of land.<\/p>\n
Although low-cost apartments are increasingly in demand,
\nsimilar facilities in the middle and upper categories, which cost
\nbetween US$1,000 and $3,000 in monthly repayments, are more
\ndifficult to sell.<\/p>\n
"Only relatively few people are willing to stay in apartments,
\nusually those who have lived abroad," he said.<\/p>\n
Three out of four people prefer to live in a house where they
\ncan have a yard, he said.<\/p>\n
People's reluctance to buy apartments has even led them to
\nturn down the loans offered by many banks.<\/p>\n
According to the branch manager of Bank Umum National,
\nFridiati Sugandi, since the beginning of this year loans for
\napartments have been as easy to obtain as house loans.<\/p>\n
Yan said yesterday that besides information, providing good
\nafter-sales service is one of the most important ways to
\neliminate people's unwillingness to live in apartments.<\/p>\n
"Many people leave their apartments because they are
\ndisappointed with the maintenance services," he said.<\/p>\n
Therefore, he said, encouraging people to live in apartments
\nwould be useless without providing good maintenance, facilities
\nand security.<\/p>\n
Low-cost<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, head of the city housing agency, Ongky Sukasah,
\nsaid recently that the government considers building low-cost
\napartments a priority.<\/p>\n
"The agency invites any private company to cooperate in
\nbuilding low-cost apartments. We provide the land and oversee
\nmarketing," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the agency is presently cooperating with PT Bakrie
\nBuilding Industry and PT BBI in building low-cost apartments,
\nsuch as in Pondok Pinang and Kebon Jahe.<\/p>\n
At present Jakarta needs about 10,000 additional low-cost
\napartments a year. Since the government can provide only 2,000
\n"we hope that the rest can be built in cooperation with private
\ncompanies", Ongky said. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-not-comfortable-living-in-flats-1447893297",
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