Builder agrees to repair leaky estate houses

General news - Friday December 14, 2007

Builder agrees to repair leaky estate houses

CPB calls Q House in for talks with residents

PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN SOMPORN THAPANACHAI

Quality House Plc has agreed to look into the plight of 186 residents of its Laddarom-Pin Klao housing estate after they sought help from the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) over substandard construction quality. At a meeting arranged by the CPB yesterday, the listed developer also agreed to right the problems of neighbouring communities, who claim the housing estate dumps wastewater into Bang Kuwiang canal.

The housing estate is in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruai district.

One complainant, Winij Wongrungruangkit, said he had water leakage and electricity problems. His monthly water bill had shot up to more than 3,000 baht.

''We have paid a high price, at least seven million baht, only to have a house riddled with problems,'' he said.

The 186 residents are in a housing estate that was set up 10 years ago and continues to open up new stages. The estate now has over 400 units.

Some residents reported problems with houses which had long passed the guarantee coverage period.

As required by law, the company offers a one-year guarantee on construction and five years for the structure.

Mr Winij said some problems with poor construction emerged during the guarantee period, but the developer dragged its feet and in many cases the guarantee period ended before the problems were fixed.

Among the residents were people who had bought a house less than a year ago, he said.

The troubled residents said Q House set up a new company to handle after-sales services, including repair work. They demanded that Q House handle the construction problems directly.

Saiyud Dejprae, 53, of Wat Singha community, said the housing estate released wastewater into the canal. The stench was especially foul in the dry season when the water level was low.

Q House deputy director Prawit Chotiwattanaphan agreed to look into the problems, including those beyond the guarantee period.

Inspection of internal damage would be done by March, he said. Minor repairs would be done immediately. Inspectors would send the list of necessary repairs to the CPB and the housing estate committee. He also agreed to address the wastewater problem.

The developer and the troubled residents inked a deal to set up a committee to monitor the problem-solving.

Suang Chaisurote, Q House senior executive vice president, blamed the problems on miscommunication. The residents had now established a juristic entity so there would be better understanding, he said.

Residents in other projects, including Pruekphirom Sathon-Thon Buri, Wararom Phetkasem 81, Laddarom Phetkasem 69, Pruekphirom Kaset-Nawamin and Wararom Pracha Uthit, also turned up to file complaints against Q House. They grumbled about housing quality, the allocation and repair of central areas and utility charges.

Bangkok Post