SALE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ACT, 1979 (Issue of strata title)

Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng asked the Minister for National Development, in the light of current complaints received by the Consumers' Association of Singapore (CASE), if he will explain why no provision was made in the Sale of Commercial Properties Act, 1979, to protect purchasers of commercial properties where such properties had been fully paid for but where purchasers had not yet been issued with strata titles although a certificate of fitness for occupation had been issued by the Building Authority; and if he will consider a cut-off date for strata titles to be issued to purchasers of commercial properties already fully paid for before the Act came into operation.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, the Sale of Commercial Properties Act and Rules came into force on 20th July 1979. It requires developers to use a prescribed form of agreement which, among other things, stipulates a date for the issue of strata titles. Although the law does not apply to agreements already entered into before 20th July 1979, we are closely monitoring the situation. Where developers are considered to have unduly delayed the issue of strata titles, a cut-off date will be set for the issue of such titles. Appropriate action will be taken against developers who fail to meet the cut-off date.