Cozy condo could turn into home of hell

JAKARTA (JP): Amidst the current rush to grab condominiums as soon as they are marketed, an appraiser is sounding the alarm on the host of problems that can beset a new owner when starting to move in.

What if the above condominium leaks? What about parking space? How should disputes between condo owners, and with the developers and operators be resolved?

These are some of the questions that need to be addressed soon before people start living in apartments, Stefanus Gunadi, chairman of the Indonesian Association of Appraisers (Mappi), said yesterday.

The government needs to draft regulations on the rights and duties of condominium owners, developers and managers, he said.

"People are joining the rush simply because others are doing it. They don't realize that there are problems in living in apartments," Stefanus told reporters after opening a two-day seminar on "Valuation, financing and management of the strata title".

He proposed the establishment of a board on strata title, similar to one found in Singapore, through which problems are discussed and resolved.

He said that in the next two or three years, most of the currently constructed apartments in Jakarta and other big cities will begin to be occupied.

"Problems may occur among the occupants, developers and the managers of the condominiums in some aspects such as car parking, leaking tiles or the use of elevators," he said.

The seminar, organized by Mappi and the Indonesian Association of Real Estate (REI), featured two senior lecturers of the School of Building and Estate Management of the National University of Singapore, Lawrence K. H. Chin and Yu Shi Ming.

Stefanus said Indonesia can learn from Singapore, which has 25 years of experience in strata title management.

Singapore has set a strata title board as an agent to mediate problems on living in apartments. "When there is a leak in the 15th floor, for instance, a dispute may occur and its settlement may have to involve a court," he said.

He said that Indonesia can set up such a board comprising officials from the office of the State Minister of Public Housing, professionals and property developers. (icn)