Forestville: Changes to plans not approved yet

[reporter2]

http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/...d-yet-20130101

Forestville: Changes to plans not approved yet

Published on Jan 01, 2013

By Cheryl Ong


THE developer behind Forestville was stopped from launching the executive condominium (EC) project as it had made changes to the development plans which had not been approved yet.

In response to a Straits Times query yesterday, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said its Controller of Housing (COH) found out last Friday that Hao Yuan was intending to launch its Forestville EC project for sale.

"Based on our preliminary investigation, we found that the developer has launched the project with some proposed changes to the development plans which had not been approved yet. This is not allowed."

It said the COH instructed Hao Yuan on the same day not to sell units in the project, pending further investigations.

"The results of the investigation will help us determine what further actions to take," it said.

The debacle began on Friday when developer Hao Yuan Investment launched the Woodlands project without approval from the COH.

Hao Yuan carried on with the launch but told agents not to collect cheques as sales could not be conducted. Potential buyers were also told that no Option-to-Purchase document could be issued.

Agents were also told to return all cheques collected, a day after the launch, Hao Yuan said in a statement at the weekend.

The most that potential buyers could do was to lodge an "expression of interest", which the developer said it would honour.

Meanwhile, some potential buyers of units at Forestville EC are still waiting to get their cheques back amid continued uncertainty over the project.

Potential buyer Peter Siddham, 36, told The Straits Times yesterday: "I don't know what happened. In fact, what's going on inside, I don't know."

There was still plenty of uncertainty evident yesterday when potential buyers - the project has attracted 1,201 applications - tried to come to terms with the weekend's developments.

Some told The Straits Times that their agents had arranged for the return of cheques, but others said they had not been told that the cheques would be returned.

Mr Anthony Wong, 28, said his agent told him his cheque had not been cashed but he was not told that it would be returned.

The showflat was closed when The Straits Times visited it yesterday. Hao Yuan declined to say when it would re-open.

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[zzz1]

Interesting read.

When buyer wanted to withdrawn the sale,can not and developer sue for damage and deposit forfeited.

In this case this can the develpoer return the cheque?

[hopeful]

are you referring to this?
http://www.stproperty.sg/articles-pr...appeal/a/98310

"Lawyers said the case underscores the need to make clear in any option-to-purchase contract whether the deal takes effect only after the option-fee money is paid, to avoid a similar incident."

[zzz1]

Yeap.. The developer should not take advantage of their own wrong ( nn apporval by authority)by asserting that there was no contract..

This is the principle of this contention ..

[kane]

Did I read somewhere the developer told the agents to collect interest but don't take cheques. Plus there's probably a caveat in that expression of interest which allows the developer to reject the offer.

[zzz1]

Did I read somewhere the developer told the agents to collect interest but don't take cheques. Plus there's probably a caveat in that expression of interest which allows the developer to reject the offer.

It seem like Some representing agent had collected the cheques already ..