Building a home without written contract leaves homeowners at risk
KUALA LUMPUR: Building a new home or carrying out renovation works without a written contract between the homeowner and contractor puts homeowners at high risk of falling victim to fraud.
Homeowners who undertake construction projects without a written contract risk falling victim to fraud, according to experts. Using unlicensed contractors or those unregistered with the Construction Industry Development Board, especially foreign nationals, can lead to greater financial losses and safety concerns due to non-compliance with technical specifications.
Datuk Mohd Rosdi Ab Aziz, president of the Malay Contractors Association of Malaysia, emphasized the importance of a clear letter of appointment over verbal instructions, as unregistered and unqualified contractors are more likely to lack technical expertise, increasing the risk of structural failure, cracks, and building collapse.
He warned that disputes, construction defects, or accidents at the worksite could lead to difficulties for homeowners. The trend of using unregistered foreign contractors for home renovations, often at lower prices than registered contractors, is a growing concern that demands immediate attention from all parties involved.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
