This is the 1st time such SOPs have been put in place for strata properties, says mayor

BY LYDIA NATHAN / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Commissioner of Buildings (COB) has introduced a four-point standard operating procedure (SOP) guideline in managing complaints and handling disputes among high-rise building residents.

DBKL Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said this is the first time that such SOPs have been put in place for strata properties.

“This will be a good mechanism in dealing with these complaints. We have in place four SOPs which will be conducted yearly,” he told reporters at the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (KL) Strata Community 2018 convention yesterday.

Nor Hisham said the SOPs would be used by parties that manage strata buildings such as the joint management body (JMB), management corporation (MC), developer and subsidiary MC (sub-MC).

The four points would cover confiscation of moveable property by the JMB, MC or sub-MC to collect owners’ arrears as a measure besides court and tribunal action; lift maintenance by the JMB or MC; short-term stay activities such as Airbnb; and general meeting procedures to establish sub-MC in the federal capital, he said.

Data from COB revealed that there were about 4,000 complaints lodged by residents via telephone calls, emails and over the counter between 2012 and 2017.

Nor Hisham said among the complaints received by residents were on short-term accommodations like Airbnb, high maintenance charges by owners, faulty lifts and maintenance problems.

According to Nor Hisham, the SOP for short-term stays such as Airbnb is to abide by safety measures and guidelines to keep things under control, while another SOP deals with moveable property owners.

“One of the methods under the Strata Management Act 2013 that can be used by the management is to collect arrears from property owners, besides the Strata Management Tribunal taking legal action.

“The SOP regarding AGM procedures will detail how to establish a sub-MC taking into consideration the outlines by COB, so that it reaches the same sustainable goals,” he said.

The final SOP will focus on maintenance issues like faulty lifts, where the management will have the right to check on contractors.

“Many times, we have seen that the management failed to understand why they need to check on any maintenance work done, so it follows the outlines by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health,” he added.

There are 5,877 stratified development in KL as of September 2018 — with 3,106 developed by the MC, 644 (JMB), 868 (developer), one (administrator), one (management agent) and 1,257 (other management).