CMA acts on customer complaints : Provisional Condominium Plan mandatory for buyers

by Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Condominium Management Authority (CMA) will make it mandatory for all prospective condominium buyers to obtain the " Provisional Condominium Plan Register (PCPR)" from the developer before construction of the property to protect the interest of buyers.

The reason for the CMA to introduce this follows complaints from customers against developers not conforming to standards they pledged after having paid advances and down payment, CMA General Manager Athula Wimalaratne said.

He said that present day developers sign sales agreements with buyers obtaining advances and down payments, but fail to provide common elements and amenities of the property as agreed. 'We get a lot of complaints from customers that some of the agreed terms and conditions are not fulfilled after the construction of the property,' Wimalaratne said.

'Even the developer interprets sales terms and conditions in favour of them after constructing the property,' he said.

This new ruling will come into effect under the Apartment Ownership (Amendment) Act, to regulate the industry. The Act also stipulates that the developer should abide with all details in the PCPR register on completion of the property, he said.

The CMA advises every purchaser not to pay an advanced down payment without obtaining the PCPR.

This document contains details including undivided shared ownership details, exclusive usage areas in the apartment, accessory parcel details and arrangements to be made to control, manage and administer common elements of the building.

Wimalaratne advised would be buyers to go through the PCPR plan in detail and look for a copy of the document.

It should be annexed to the selling apartment document before paying any developer before construction. The PCPR plan could be used as a property deed for the buyer before or after the construction of the condominium.

The CMA advises commercial banks, public banks and lending institutions to demand the PCPR register before releasing funds to developers and prospective buyers.

More than 500 condominium apartments are expected to come up in Colombo.