wenqing
14-03-11, 12:41
http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/03/14/stricter-rules-for-deceptive-showflats/
Stricter rules for deceptive showflats
By iProperty.com Singapore – March 14th, 2011
http://yfittopostblogsg.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/588blog_showflat.jpg?w=588
Too good to be true? Showflats that deceive could be in trouble. (Image courtesy of Ong & Ong.)
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced recently that the government is planning tougher guidelines regarding the promotion of new homes.
The goal, Mr. Mah said, is to ensure that showflats built by developers will market their homes to look like the apartments that actually get built.
The Minister’s statement in Parliament came after the Urban Redevelopment Authority last month revealed that they will scrutinise the Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act and Housing Developers Rules.
Their goal is to share “more accurate and transparent information on housing projects”, particularly in relation to how showflats are depicted.
Currently, some developers are resorting to unrealistic or deceptive constructions of showflats, aimed at creating an ideal view of the property. Display homes, for example, will remove structural walls or replace them with glass partitions, heightening the illusion of size.
Similarly, they may also raise ceilings to make the unit appear bigger.
While the current stipulations of the Housing Developers Act requires that print advertisements for retail properties should include a developer’s name and license number, they do not mention rules regarding the truthfulness or accuracy of the marketing material. Some advertisement maps, for example, place landmarks and public transport routes closer to the property than in reality.
The Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act does list certain requirements for print advertisements, stipulating that a print ad must include details such as the developer’s name and licence number and the date when buyers can get their keys.
These rules, however, do not touch on the truthfulness of marketing material, such as accurately drawn maps. Nor do they seek to prevent embellished artists’ impressions.
Maps in advertisements are thus often not drawn to scale, with MRT stations and other amenities placed closer than they actually are. Stunning views are included in artists’ impressions while unsightly landmarks are omitted.
Speaking to The Business Times, Mr. Mah shared that “the proposed changes will allow buyers to have more comprehensive, accurate and timely information and make the market work better as a whole.”
For the most authoritative and comprehensive listing of properties for sale or rent, go to www.iProperty.com.sg (http://www.iProperty.com.sg)
For more property news, real estate reports and celebrity home features, head to www.iproperty.com.sg/resources (http://www.iproperty.com.sg/resources)
Related Articles:
Singapore’s coolest homes (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/singapores-coolest-homes/)
Are Singapore’s shophouses disappearing? (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/22/singapores-disappearing-shophouses/)
BTO flats in Yishun, Butik Batok launched (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/bto-flats-to-launch-in-yishun-and-bukit-batok/)
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter (http://twitter.com/yahoosg) and become a fan on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/yahoosingaporenewsroom)
Stricter rules for deceptive showflats
By iProperty.com Singapore – March 14th, 2011
http://yfittopostblogsg.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/588blog_showflat.jpg?w=588
Too good to be true? Showflats that deceive could be in trouble. (Image courtesy of Ong & Ong.)
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced recently that the government is planning tougher guidelines regarding the promotion of new homes.
The goal, Mr. Mah said, is to ensure that showflats built by developers will market their homes to look like the apartments that actually get built.
The Minister’s statement in Parliament came after the Urban Redevelopment Authority last month revealed that they will scrutinise the Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act and Housing Developers Rules.
Their goal is to share “more accurate and transparent information on housing projects”, particularly in relation to how showflats are depicted.
Currently, some developers are resorting to unrealistic or deceptive constructions of showflats, aimed at creating an ideal view of the property. Display homes, for example, will remove structural walls or replace them with glass partitions, heightening the illusion of size.
Similarly, they may also raise ceilings to make the unit appear bigger.
While the current stipulations of the Housing Developers Act requires that print advertisements for retail properties should include a developer’s name and license number, they do not mention rules regarding the truthfulness or accuracy of the marketing material. Some advertisement maps, for example, place landmarks and public transport routes closer to the property than in reality.
The Housing Developers (Control & Licensing) Act does list certain requirements for print advertisements, stipulating that a print ad must include details such as the developer’s name and licence number and the date when buyers can get their keys.
These rules, however, do not touch on the truthfulness of marketing material, such as accurately drawn maps. Nor do they seek to prevent embellished artists’ impressions.
Maps in advertisements are thus often not drawn to scale, with MRT stations and other amenities placed closer than they actually are. Stunning views are included in artists’ impressions while unsightly landmarks are omitted.
Speaking to The Business Times, Mr. Mah shared that “the proposed changes will allow buyers to have more comprehensive, accurate and timely information and make the market work better as a whole.”
For the most authoritative and comprehensive listing of properties for sale or rent, go to www.iProperty.com.sg (http://www.iProperty.com.sg)
For more property news, real estate reports and celebrity home features, head to www.iproperty.com.sg/resources (http://www.iproperty.com.sg/resources)
Related Articles:
Singapore’s coolest homes (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/singapores-coolest-homes/)
Are Singapore’s shophouses disappearing? (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/02/22/singapores-disappearing-shophouses/)
BTO flats in Yishun, Butik Batok launched (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/bto-flats-to-launch-in-yishun-and-bukit-batok/)
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter (http://twitter.com/yahoosg) and become a fan on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/yahoosingaporenewsroom)