View Full Version : THE SEA VIEW- 32 Million Defects Claim
Latest news 18th Sept 2013
http://wanbao.omy.sg/local/story20130918-12385
546住户指公寓4000缺陷 告发展商索3200万
高级海景公寓缺陷多，漆砖脱落，排水管阻塞臭味四溢，步道木板腐烂等，546住户聘2律师入禀法庭，起诉发展商等四造索赔3200万元！
这栋位于加东区安珀路的公寓是海景华庭（The Seaview），属于永久地契公寓项目，共有546个单位。
自2008年住户迁入公寓后，就发现公寓内问题多多，包括厕所厨房恶臭难忍，甚至许多住户的厕所引来飞虫，公寓的公共设施也频频出状况。
- See more at: http://wanbao.omy.sg/local/story20130918-12385#sthash.mi0P9s7J.dpuf
Recently there are many condos facing defect problems and suing the developers...... It shows tat quality of pte property has dropped!! Hai! And the victims are always the owners, who inherit the problems!
Wild Falcon
18-09-13, 22:13
Singaporeans like to buy new condos based on how nice the show flat is. Not very sophisticated or discerning buyers. Worst still dont even know the real address of the condo and thought the condo location is show flat location. Just look at the Thomson 3 thread and u know how ignorant they are. Some thought the condo is along 3 Thomson Road instead of Brighthill. And quality of new condos hv definitely come down. In fact the most problematic condos are the so called high end ones. So doesn't mean expensive or branded = good. At least the older condos are solidly built with strong foundation.
The older high-end ones, TOP before 2009, are definitely in good condition....... :cool:
The newer ones, if high-end ones are like that, the low-end ones will be even worse, except very few will go to court because for the low price they already expect the low quality, and they have no financial muscle to take on the developers' big boys anyway...... :banghead:
Singaporeans like to buy new condos based on how nice the show flat is. Not very sophisticated or discerning buyers. Worst still dont even know the real address of the condo and thought the condo location is show flat location. Just look at the Thomson 3 thread and u know how ignorant they are. Some thought the condo is along 3 Thomson Road instead of Brighthill. And quality of new condos hv definitely come down. In fact the most problematic condos are the so called high end ones. So doesn't mean expensive or branded = good. At least the older condos are solidly built with strong foundation.
Developers r cutting corners now. Sad to c things turning out like that. Those TOP next year might have even more problems.
It is all about "cheaper better faster" workers.
I always ask who the Main Contractor is when visiting showflats and almost 100% of the time, the sales agents are stumped and they think I am an alien with a different buying criteria.
I always ask who the Main Contractor is when visiting showflats and almost 100% of the time, the sales agents are stumped and they think I am an alien with a different buying criteria.
do they award the contract so early if they haven't started piling.
The developer : Wheelock
Architect : RSP
Main Contractor : Tiong Aik
M&E : Squire Mech
all the big names.....
do they award the contract so early if they haven't started piling.
I think so.
The developer : Wheelock
Architect : RSP
Main Contractor : Tiong Aik
M&E : Squire Mech
all the big names.....
Quite a shame then for something to have gone wrong.
The new project at Amk ave 2 is by wheellock properties . Showroom ready soon . Will this affected the sales ? :doh:
The new project at Amk ave 2 is by wheellock properties . Showroom ready soon . Will this affected the sales ? :doh:
Wheelock Property is usually focusing on luxury properties and usually their workmanship is good. They have a credible reputation. I dont know what happens to Seaview but probably they learnt this lesson well and wont repeat the same mistake in their other new condos.
If the big ones are like that, then the smaller developers might be even worse.
Let's compile a list of developments that have defects issues and seeking redress thru the courts
1. The Sea View - largest in history of defects claim 32 Million
2. The Sail - claim amount ?
3. The Coast at Sentosa Cove - claim amount ?
4. Sandy Isle Sentosa Villa - (individual ) claim amount ?
5. La Dolce Vita Condo - claim amount ?
anymore ...
Pls add to this list...... thanks
https://www.99.co/blog/singapore/how-the-seaview-is-a-gigantic-warning-to-singapores-property-buyers-2/
The most common line from property agents is that it “never goes wrong”. Property always increases in value, because Singapore is land scarce. And sure, that sounds good in theory – but the Seaview and its current $32 million lawsuit is a good example of what can go wrong:
The Seaview situation
When the residents of the Seaview first purchased their units, they did so at the exorbitant cost of around $1,600 per square foot. It didn’t seem unreasonable at the time: the Seaview was developed by Wheelock Properties, which has a reputation for quality, high-end properties.
The Seaview is also within walking distance to Parkway Parade (the neighbourhood mall), and was marketed as the “Ardmore Park of the east.”
But problems started early, and by 2011 residents were attempting to sue Wheelock Properties for damages amounting to $32 million. And even that amount doesn’t highlight what they’ve had to put up with.
Lethal swimming pool, falling debris, and apartments that stink
The Seaview’s problems started within a year of being occupied. Signs of the problems are still apparent, as the trial is still pending. Here’s one of the most obvious:
Notice the discrepancy the right hand side of the roof, where part of the grille like structure is missing.
It’s not there because, during the middle of a storm, it fell off and crashed near the swimming pool. No one was out at the time, but “chance of being killed by falling debris” was probably not a highlight of the property brochure.
Again, this is not an old condominium; and the management informed me that the incident happened sometime within the first year of occupancy.
Now take a look at the swimming pool:
Those green patches are not slime. They’re much worse. That’s where the tiles have popped loose, and form razor sharp patches. At one point this cut into a pregnant resident. The medical bills amounted to over $20,000.
The same happens at the edge of the pool, where people often sit or stand:
The management discovers new patches of loose tiles every day. It’s gotten to the point where parts of the pool are regularly cordoned off, to avoid someone requiring stitches:
Swimming Pool Sea View
When it’s not threatening people, the pool is busy threatening the carpark. This is what you find on the ceiling of the carpark (located under the pool):
Swimming Pool Sea View
Those are tiny stalactites, formed from the liquid in the swimming pool. While I am not an expert, I suspect there is no school of architecture that recommends letting the swimming pool leak into the carpark.
The wooden deck around the swimming pool is thoroughly rotted in parts, and the management explained that at least one resident has put a foot through the platform. Currently, the deck is made of a mismatched, different coloured wood: each darker coloured plank is where a rotted piece had to be replaced:
The Sea View Flooring
The wood problem is also in the Seaview’s clubhouse:
The Sea View Doors
Those are very welcoming doors, in that they will never close. They are literally too small, and don’t meet in the middle. Tape measures were apparently in short supply when the Seaview was being built.
All of these issues pale in comparison to the sewage problem. Now I can’t go into someone’s house and take pictures, but it’s not needed in this case – the problem is the stench.
In the linked article (see The Seaview situation), it mentions that residents complained of “foul smells” and “infestations of flies.” While I didn’t see flies, I can attest to the smell.
A sickly sweet smell would sometimes seem to come out of the walls. This is due to the lack of a U-trap: a device that separates waste from the kitchen and the toilet. Refuse from the two just merge into a common pipe, and choke up.
One of the residents complained that the cost of hiring a contractor, every time he needed to clear up the pipes, ran into hundreds of dollars every month. The alternative was for him to go arm deep into the pipes, and clear it himself.
Other bizarre design decisions include windows that leak, and not using primer before the buildings were painted (primer is the base layer onto which paint adheres. Without it, the paint will crack and peel).
Financial consequences for residents
Most residents were torn between openly discussing resale issues, and keeping it quiet. On the one hand, many of them would rather offload their units right now. On the other, they can’t openly say it because it would just drive their property values down even more.
One resident claimed that he was struggling to sell at around $1,000 per square foot (remember, the original price was around $1,600 per square foot). However, his prospective buyer ran into problems with the bank, which refused to grant the loan due to the Seaview’s pending legal issues.
Legal frustrations and the “independent contractor” defence
You’d think this is a clear cut case in court, but it isn’t. Wheelock Properties, like many other developers, can invoke the independent contractor defence. This is basically a claim that certain third parties, hired to build the property, are the ones responsible for the defect – not the developer.
These independent contractors, to whom the blame might be pushed, can in turn invoke the same defence when they are sued. They might also be able to claim another contractor they hired is responsible, and deflect the legal heat.
This can eventually result in residents suing small sub-contractors, who probably cannot pay the amounts needed for proper compensation.
As annoying as that may sound, it’s not unusual turn of events. The independent contractor defence has been used by property developers for a long time.
This is where the Seaview becomes important: the law firm representing the Seaview is arguing that the independent contractor defence cannot be used in this case. If the courts agree with them, it will be a landmark case: it would shift significant power into the hands of property buyers, as developers would be much more accountable for their work.
A warning that every property buyer should heed
The Seaview is a monumental reminder to every property buyer in Singapore: never make assumptions based on the name of the developer. Each and every property development should be viewed in isolation – judge it as a unique case; don’t look at other works by the same developer, and expect the same quality.
It is also a warning against attractive “early bird” discounts for under-development property. It may be cheaper to buy before you can see the end result. But if the end result is something like the Seaview, the discount will be more than compensated for by the potential losses.
QUOTE: "One resident claimed that he was struggling to sell at around $1,000 per square foot (remember, the original price was around $1,600 per square foot). However, his prospective buyer ran into problems with the bank, which refused to grant the loan due to the Seaview’s pending legal issues."
Can anyone remember the launch price? For some reason, I remember it to be closer to 800psf. Does that mean the 1.6k psf above refers to the price this particular resident paid for a resale unit?
thomastansb
14-12-15, 13:47
It was originally launched around 700psf. Who is this "resident" trying to kid? Average prices 1.6 to 1.8k psf. Last transaction is at 1.8k psf.
If 1k psf, I think will be sold within mins. Talk cock nia.
QUOTE: "One resident claimed that he was struggling to sell at around $1,000 per square foot (remember, the original price was around $1,600 per square foot). However, his prospective buyer ran into problems with the bank, which refused to grant the loan due to the Seaview’s pending legal issues."
Can anyone remember the launch price? For some reason, I remember it to be closer to 800psf. Does that mean the 1.6k psf above refers to the price this particular resident paid for a resale unit?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/640685992744972/
When a private property is sited in an area with expensive land price and yet sell at such "cheap" price (relative to the land), you should already can expect the kind of quality you would expect for the buildings (both exterior and interior). All those so-called "branded" developer, developer known for developing "luxury" properties and quality buildings, same for the "branded" quality contractors etc are all just useless. The reality is still "price" and "PROFITS"!
QUOTE: "One resident claimed that he was struggling to sell at around $1,000 per square foot (remember, the original price was around $1,600 per square foot). However, his prospective buyer ran into problems with the bank, which refused to grant the loan due to the Seaview’s pending legal issues."
Can anyone remember the launch price? For some reason, I remember it to be closer to 800psf. Does that mean the 1.6k psf above refers to the price this particular resident paid for a resale unit?
yeah....at the end of the day its still abt the margin.... the so call luxury developers....have no qualms to deliver you a sub standard project....they will not defend their reputation at the expense of profit....just look at the condos nowadays....design and quality going lower and lower....pay cheap for lousy can accept....pay over the top for lousy is the nightmare....within a few years the condo will start to have all sorts of problems because of the poor build quality...
Such is a common phenomenon now in Singapore.
The same goes for food, especially those in hawker centres and food courts....
People are asking for price cap etc, but with the rental so high for new-comers, what can you expect? No brainers - quality and quantity suffer!
yeah....at the end of the day its still abt the margin.... the so call luxury developers....have no qualms to deliver you a sub standard project....they will not defend their reputation at the expense of profit....just look at the condos nowadays....design and quality going lower and lower....pay cheap for lousy can accept....pay over the top for lousy is the nightmare....within a few years the condo will start to have all sorts of problems because of the poor build quality...
Such is a common phenomenon now in Singapore.
The same goes for food, especially those in hawker centres and food courts....
People are asking for price cap etc, but with the rental so high for new-comers, what can you expect? No brainers - quality and quantity suffer!
Cze char hor fun last time got fish slices, meat, prawns, sotong. Now the fish become fish cake only and sotong disappeared.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.