'Getting authentic land title here is difficult'

'Getting authentic land title here is difficult'

The City Administration has announced that it would continue
eviction in some areas, owned by private companies or state-run
entities, before the start of the Muslim fasting month, which
begins in the last week of October. The administration officials
have apparently not taken into account that most residents
actually paid for what they thought was a title to the land, and
did not just squat on the land. The Jakarta Post talked to some
residents about the difficulties in obtaining affordable housing
in the capital.

Heri, 45, is a sidewalk food vendor in South Jakarta. He lives
in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, with his family:

Living in the capital is really hard, especially trying to
find an affordable house.

As a migrant, I had to look around for quite some time before
I could find an affordable house a few years ago. I asked native
Jakartans, mostly living in suburban areas, if they wanted to
sell their land.

I sensed something odd when several land owners could not
answer my questions on the legal status of the land. I tried to
get more information from the neighbors and they convinced me
that the land was in dispute.

Since then, I have become more careful when dealing with land
and housing in Jakarta. Otherwise, I'll be in trouble or end up
being evicted if I don't have a legal right the land in the
future.

I feel sorry for the evicted people. They may be legally wrong
or just naive but they, just like other citizens, also deserve
decent housing.

Agus, not his real name, 28, is an employee with a private
company in Central Jakarta. He lives in Ciledug, Tangerang, with
his brother:

If we decided to buy some land or a house, a careful research
is needed. That goes for all of us.

I had to ask many people living around the area about a
particular plot of land to make sure that the legal status of the
land or the ownership was clear.

I suggest to others to never give a down payment until we are
sure who the legal owner is.

From my experience, Betawi (native Jakartans) usually get
their ownership status on land based on inheritance. Most of the
land doesn't have proper documents.

I don't want to take a risk of becoming a squatter because I
will be prone to eviction.

Wijaya, 32, is an employee with a company in Central Jakarta.
He lives in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta, with his wife and daughter:

It is not easy to get a comfortable, affordable house in the
city.

I can't just make a deal to buy a house in the city because I
have to consider the house's legal status and also what sort of
neighborhood it is.

I want to live in a house which is accessible to my office and
my wife's office, but it's not easy. The only possible way is to
buy a house out in the suburbs, regardless of the distance and
the expensive price.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.