How to Avoid Fraud in the Impersonation of Sharia Houses

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The name of the developer PT Wepro Citra Sentosa is widely known precisely after being involved in a housing fraud case under the guise of sharia that harmed 3,680 victims. Losses incurred were not kidding. The victims lost Rp 40 billion which was supposed to be used to develop their dream dwellings. This case occurred shortly after the disclosure of fraud by PT ARM Citra Mulia. In early November, the developer was found to be cheating on 270 residents. The losses incurred reached Rp 23 billion. Initially, the perpetrator who was also the company's chief director along with three other people withdrew money from the victims. The money is used for land acquisition. However, housing that was planned to be built in five locations was halted. The project owner also never appears on location. In fact, land which was originally to be used as a construction site has never been purchased.

Responding to these cases, the Director General of Housing Provision of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Khalawi Abdul Hamid said, the public must be more vigilant with those who intend to commit fraud. He promised, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing will coordinate with local governments and the police to conduct surveillance. So, in order for prospective consumers to be more thorough before buying a house, Khalawi urged people to check the construction permit to the regional government. "Checking the local government if there is already a construction permit," Khalawi said Kompas.com, Tuesday (12/17/2019). Furthermore, prospective home buyers ensure financial support from banks. Khalawi stressed this so that consumers are not easily tempted by cheap property prices. "Don't be easily tempted by cheap houses," he said. No less important, before deciding to buy a house, consumers must also find out whether the developer is a member of the housing association.

In Indonesia, there are a number of special associations for property developers including the Indonesian Real Estate (REI), the Association of Indonesian Housing and Settlement Developers (APERSI), the Housing and Settlement Developers Association (HIMPERA), the National Association of Healthy Healthy Home Developers (APERNAS), and other associations. Finally, he advised the public to find out more about the products to be selected. According to Khalawi, if the house to be purchased is a subsidized house, the down payment given is only 1 percent. "And there is an advance subsidy from the government of Rp 4 million, and a difference of 5 percent interest subsidy," Khalawi said.

Chairman of the Indonesian Real Estate DPP (REI) Totok Lusida rate, the case occurred because sharia housing developers have not implemented strict controls on prospective consumers. "Because no one has control about the reward and punishment," Totok said. Yet according to him, these two things are important elements in doing business. To that end, he appealed to potential buyers to also check the credibility and track record of the developer. Not only that, people are advised to check land ownership before deciding to buy property. This is done to ensure that the land to be built is in accordance with its purpose. "Based on experience so far, the land has been designated as green for rice fields, even though people have already paid in installments, they have already bought it for the land," Totok said.

This article has been aired on Kompas.com with the title "How to Avoid Fraudulent Covering Sharia Houses", https://properti.kompas.com/read/2019/12/18/070000221/how-avoiding-fraud -bering-shed-syariah page = all.
Author: Rosiana Haryanti
Editor: Hilda B Alexander