Forum Letter Response 9 December 2014 Case needs landlords support to deal with errant retailers WE THANK Mr Cheang Peng Wah for his letter (Why get landlords to enforce fair trading law?; last Thursday). Consumer protection requires the cooperation of all parties. While the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) can speak up for consumers, we also need retailers to have fair trading policies. Malls and landlords can work with Case by exerting pressure on retailers or tenants not to behave dishonestly in their business activities. The law already gives landlords some powers. Under the Building Maintenance (Strata Management) Regulations 2005, there is an existing by-law which states that a subsidiary proprietor or an occupier of a lot shall not use his lot for any purpose (illegal or otherwise) which may be injurious to the reputation of the subdivided building. Case had suggested to the landlords of Sim Lim Square and Peoples Park Complex that they consider incorporating a term in their tenancy agreements that the tenants must comply with the by-laws not to injure the reputation of the mall. In fact, at a press conference held by the Management Corporation Strata Title of Sim Lim Square on Nov 7, at least one landlord raised a similar suggestion of passing a by-law to terminate the tenancy agreements of unscrupulous retailers. Also, many tenancy agreements already have similar clauses that tenants must comply with the laws of Singapore. For example, most landlords in residential premises would terminate the tenancy if a tenant was found to be operating an illegal gambling den. There is no reason why similar practices cannot be extended to commercial properties. Such a move will protect not only consumers but also the reputation of the malls involved. Ultimately, if the unpleasant incidents at Sim Lim Square continue unabated, the retail shops at the mall will also suffer. Lim Biow Chuan President Consumers Association of Singapore straitstimes/premium/forum-letters/story/case-needs-landlords-support-deal-errant-retailers-20141209
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 01:56:08 +0000
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