NATURE & EFFECTS OF THE CHANGES ARISING FROM THE HOUSING DEVELOPERS RULES 1985

Abstract

The 1985 Housing Developers Rules were implemented as a result of a review of the "shortcomings" of the earlier rules. Essentially, the new rules tie up some loose ends in the legislation and were made in response to representations and complaints from both developers and purchasers. The 1976 Rules were inadequate in protecting purchasers as seen from recent disputes between homeowners and developers in several residential developments (which are governed by the 1976 Rules). Such disputes had prompted the idea of this study. The main objective of the dissertation is to look into the extent of the changes brought about by the 1985 Rules in providing a more conducive environment for transactions between housing developers and purchasers. This will be done by focusing on the major changes brought about by the 1985 Rules; and these changes can be classified into four major topics which are as follows: 1) progress payments; 2) delivery of vacant possession and legal completion; 3) defects warranty period; and 4) error in floor area. The above will be dealt with in Chapters 3 to 6. The earlier chapter will provide the basis for the inadequacies of the 1976 Rules. Chapter 7 gives both a summary of the effects of the major changes brought about by the 1985 Rules and a conclusion.