In a recent move to enhance property safety, a new initiative will allow potential homebuyers to check for flood-prone areas before making a purchase.
This was announced by federal Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof in the recent Parliament session that house buyers will soon have the option of checking a portal that maps out flood-prone areas before purchasing their homes.
“The portal is expected to be accessible to the public by the end of 2024,” Fadillah said.
In a recent interview, the public have given feedback regarding the effort, emphasising the importance of transparency and factual information in helping buyers make informed decisions.
As the rollout of this system progresses, there is optimism that it will instil confidence in new homeowners and ensure smoother property transactions.
Hensly, a member of the public sector, said that this is a great initiative.
“Not only are we going to have dedicated data on flood-prone areas, but hopefully it’s going to be transparent enough and factually informative for people about to purchase a home.
“Hopefully, this will be implemented smoothly, and new home buyers will have confidence in getting their first house,” he said.
Meanwhile, owner of Quinn’s Kitchen, Allan Goin stated that it would bring forward a positive and negative impact both for buyers and contractors.
“Future homeowners and real estate investors will definitely benefit from such a database, as the public can confidently access information before purchasing a unit.
“On the downside, contractors might be negatively impacted if they are assigned to flood-prone areas.
“However, this also serves a purpose for contractors, as they will need to incorporate flood mitigation plans before commencing construction.”
Jacintha Jolene, who works in the corporate communication sector, agrees with such an initiative because looking at the property prices right now, they have become increasingly unaffordable for many individuals and families.
“Implementing measures to address this issue can help create more equitable housing opportunities and stabilise the market.
“I hope it will really materialise and bring much relief to future prospective home buyers.”
