In a bind over unpaid maintenance fee at flats

OWNERS of two low-cost flats in Batu Caves are appealing for a waiver of late payment charges and interest on unpaid maintenance fees.

Enggang and Nuri Apartments in Taman Bukit Idaman, Selayang, were built by the same developer in the 1980s.

Enggang Apartment Residents Association president K. Segaren Vellasamy said waiving the late payment charges would encourage more to pay up the fees.

He said the owners had failed to set up joint management bodies (JMB), so the developer was still managing the properties.

“In the beginning, the maintenance fee was RM20. It was increased to RM45 but from January it has gone up to RM55.

“There are about 1,000 units. Most of the owners are poor and do not have the means to settle their bills,” he said.

Segaren said that although he had no outstanding fees, the only consistent service provided by the management was general cleaning.

Poor maintenance, he added, was among the reasons many stopped paying the maintenance fee.

Woon Kim Lian said the accumulated maintenance sum was too high and settling it would be impossible for many residents.

“Increasing the maintenance fee will only make the situation worse,” said Woon who has settled her bills.

Pushpaleela William said the building had many cracks.

Nuri Apartment was poor. — Photos: KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star

“Some units have mould issues too,” she said.

Nuri Apartment resident Katherine Dairiamsanthanadass said residents wanted Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) to step in.

“My father has about RM2,500 including interest in outstanding fees,” she said, highlighting that the interest alone was RM700.

“The building was never maintained well, so it is not right to charge us interest,” she added.

Another Nuri Apartment resident, Hamidah Bohari said residents often organised gotong-royong to clean up the compound themselves.

An MPS spokesperson said the council, through its Commissioner of Buildings, had assisted residents to set up an action committee to manage the schemes in 2022.

“Unfortunately, the committee failed to open a bank account.

“As such, the developer is continuing to manage the properties.

“The management, under the developer, held an annual general meeting last year.

“The increase in maintenance fees was agreed to during the AGM, which is permissible under Strata Management Act 2013.

“We are trying to help, but the residents have failed to help themselves,” said the spokesperson.

He stressed the importance of strata property owners paying maintenance fees diligently.

“The management was trying to maintain the properties with the funds at hand.

“The residents need to form their own JMB and manage the properties,” he said, adding that MPS would try to set up a meeting between the parties.