JB developer ordered to pay US$2.58 million to condo owners, including Singaporeans, over delays

“When we purchase a unit, we expect the developer to fulfill its obligation. So what should be an exciting milestone for us became a prolonged and painful ordeal,” she said.

Another Singaporean, Hong Wei Zhong, 45, said the condominium’s facilities, including swimming pools, were not ready when his family received the keys in October 2017.

Hong, a manager whose family purchased a 10th-floor unit under his mother’s name, said the experience felt like “living in a construction site”.

“I tried to engage the developer directly but then (it) refused to entertain us. At that point, I decided to speak with other owners in person and through Facebook and see if we can collectively engage a lawyer to file a lawsuit,” he said.

Hong’s mother is among those successful in seeking damages from the developer. 

Hong told CNA that if the appeal involving the 39 units is unsuccessful, the successful claimants plan to pool part of their compensation to cover the legal costs payable to the developer.

Lawyer Rajah, who represented R&F Development, told CNA that the developer disputed some of the purchasers’ complaints about the condominium’s facilities.

He cited a claim by some purchasers that the squash court did not meet the dimensions of an Olympic-sized court, describing it as “ridiculous”.