Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has said it will review laws in an effort to crack down on developers misrepresenting their projects to buyers.
The URA will also launch a public consultation on the proposed amendments next month, the Today newspaper reported. Analysts welcomed the move, noting the increased number of complaints from buyers about misleading showflats.
“Developers have learned successfully to create the impression of spaciousness, quality and grandeur beyond their actual dimensions and quality. They have been pushing the envelope of what is acceptable as clever marketing and that which is totally misleading,” said Mr Colin Tan, head of research and consultancy at Chesterton Suntec International.
Replying to queries from Today, the URA said it was “currently reviewing the Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act and Housing Developers Rules”. The URA said the review was with the aim of simplifying licensing requirements for developers and providing more accurate and transparent information on housing projects to facilitate home purchasers in making better decisions.
”More details will be shared in March when URA launches a public consultation on the proposed amendments,” the URA said.
“We welcome the proposed new guidelines on showflat representations as this will lead to greater clarity within the industry by reducing potential incidences of misunderstanding. The new guidelines will benefit the home buyers, as they will be able to make informed purchases and developers will find it easier to construct showflats with greater clarity,” said a spokesperson for City Developments said.
The Singapore Business Times reported yesterday that the new rules would ensure developers display showflats with all the structural walls and columns and with accurate ceiling heights. Other likely regulations would include clearly marking out the divide between the balcony and living rooms, and using walls that have the same thickness as in the actual apartment.
Mr Donald Han, vice-chairman of property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, Singapore, said: “For the buyers, they must know what they are getting beyond the interior cosmetics. And for the developer, showing actual beams, thickness of walls, demarcations of balcony, ceiling heights, etc, reduces any accusation of misrepresentation by buyers.”
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