THE BUILDING DOCTOR PROMOTION CAMPAIGN:

DON’T LOSE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY.
(JANGAN RUGI HARTANAH)

Why Buy Property?

People choose to buy property for personal reasons – be it for investment or otherwise. It all depends on the objectives and particular circumstances. Most people are inclined to buy property for their own use.

Buying one’s own home is a matter of security. It frees your mind from being evicted the landlord and the worries of being in breach of contract for trying to make the rented house a home. Property prices are an issue since they tend to rise year after year.

Today more and more people invest in property. There are various reasons that lead to this decision, but the most notable ones are affordability, the increase in borrowing capacities, for extra source of income through rental or just as a business decision. Whatever the reasons, the property(s) owned need to be serviced and maintained. And here lies the importance of building doctors.

WHY THE BUILDING DOCTOR

FOMCA reported that house defects within the defect liability period in 2014 increased from 340 complaints in 2013 to 1729. Likewise a year later (2015) the total reported complaints further rose to 2034.

–source: Berita Harian on line 20/8/2016

Property owners would expect that the property that they just bought is of good quality and free from any defects. Property owners would expect that the property that they just bought is in good quality and free from any defects. Most case scenarios that are not how it is. Thus the onus still lies on the owner to have the property assessed and to report any defects to the developer or contractor within the defect liability period (DLP). These rights are stipulated in the Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Act 1966 and in this Act, the purchaser is allowed to demand for any rectification of any defect, shrinkage or other faults found in the building within the DLP and that is 24 months after the date of vacant possession.

Ideally the property should be free of both patent and latent defects. The former are visible defects whilst the later are defects not seen with the naked eye. We as the Building Doctor (BD) will assist in helping to prevent and provide solutions for common problems found in buildings. We are professionals who can teach building owners how to recognize and solve some of the most common sources of problems in maintaining buildings and how to make informed decisions about repairs and improvements.

Amongst the standard operating procedures applied by BD are as follows:

  1. The character of a property are to be retained and preserved
  2. The distinctive features, finishes and construction of a particular property shall not be altered
  3. Any defects are to be repaired. Any parts that need to be replaced must not alter the character of the building
  4. The BD takes into account the fundamental forces of nature during the course of work done. These are heat, light, water, gravity and wind. For example heat shrinks and water travels fast through cracks
  5. Assessment of the building must be totally independent

Assessment checklist used by a good BD shall include:

  1. Floor : finishing, alignment and evenness, cracks and damages, hollowness, delamination and jointing
  2. Wall : as above
  3. Ceiling : as above
  4. Door : joints and gaps, alignment and evenness, materials and damages, functionality, accessories and defects
  5. Window : as above
  6. Fixture : as above
  7. Basic M&E fittings :as above
  8. Exterior assessment : paint, foundations, cracks, no exposed objects, missing or damage shingles, automation

The government or any of its agency does not carry out any individual inspection for any property or building. Property owners are advised to contact independent assessors to carry assessments to their buildings. The assessment period may take hours or days depending on thoroughness demanded by the owners.

Any claims arising from the assessments conducted by a BD can be put forward to the developer or contractor within the DLP as specified in the Sales and Purchase Agreement. Grievances not met by the developer/contractor can be put forward to the Tribunal for Home Buyers Claims which is located within the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing Housing and Local Government, Putra Jaya.

Contact us and we will assist you:

SOLARCREST – WE ARE THE BUILDING DOCTOR