PMC continues efforts to reduce backlogs in transfer of properties |14 December 2019

As more people are doing their part in paying off their government flats and houses, the Property Management Corporation is increasing its efforts to ensure that properties that have already been paid in full are transferred to their tenants.

In this regard, the Property Management Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday witnessed a group of 17 customers out of 30 who have completed the payments on their condominium units sign the necessary transfer documents and officially become home-owners.

Fourteen of the units were two-bedroom units at Roche Caïman, while the rest included units on other estates.

Some of these new home-owners had completed payments quite a few years ago but due to complexities of the Condominium Properties Act they faced a delay in transfer of ownership.

According to PMC’s chief executive, Evelina Antha, this had resulted into a considerable backlog of untransferred paid units.

“The Condominium Properties Act, established in 2006, was amended in 2014 but we were not ready for all the procedures that came with these amendments,” Ms Antha explained.

“For instance, for someone to receive their property deed under the law they first need a copy of the plan of their units. But there are no plans for the flats that were constructed over 20 or 25 years ago, so when these tenants complete their payments we have to go back to the drawing board to draw up a plan for them.”

She noted that this takes a long time because PMC does not possess the internal resources to draw these plans and hence have to pass on this responsibility to the land surveyors at the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure, Lands and Transport, who already have a lot on their plate.

“We also have to receive retrospective approval from the planning authority, register the plans, send them over to our lawyer and, on our side, we have to ensure that every detail are accounted for and updated,” she further explained.

PMC started its first transfer process in 2016 during which it transferred 16 units at Bois Blanc, St Louis and Mandarine Estate, Au Cap.

Meanwhile, in 2018, the corporation transferred around 30 out of 40 units that had been paid in full. These units were located at Roch Lane, Bel Air, Chetty flat, Anse Aux Pins, ex-Geers, St Louis and ex-Pierre Hoareau, English River.

Ms Antha added that “some people have finished paying for their houses more than 10 years ago and are awaiting their transfers so we are under pressure to make this happen”.

“We know that there are tenants who recently completed their payments, such as those residing in Persévérance, but they have to wait for us to deal with the backlog of transfers before they get their turn.”

Ms Antha advised tenants who wish to sign the deed documents on behalf of the property-owners who are not in the country or who are incapacitated, to have their necessary documents such as affidavits on hand.

The same applies in instances wherein the initial applicant has passed away and another party is signing the documents.

It is to be noted that prospective homeowners of PMC properties have a period of 25 years to pay for their homes.

Although a PMC property is transferred onto a tenant, the person still has to abide by the rules and regulations prescribed by PMC in their transfer agreement.

Elsie Pointe