Property Law
Law on Housing and Habitation

Law on Housing and Habitation

On 12 January 2011, the Government issued the Law Number 1 of 2011 on Housing and Habitation (“Housing Law”). By the issuance of this law, the existed law on housing Number 4 of 1992 has been revoked. This new Housing Law is divided into 2 (two) parts i.e. housing and habitation. The purpose of this Housing Law is to fulfill the public needs for housing.

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Guidance on Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement of House According to the Decree of State Minister Public Housing Affairs Number 09/KTPS/M/1995

Guidance on Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement of House According to the Decree of State Minister Public Housing Affairs Number 09/KTPS/M/1995

Indonesia’s high population growth rate has increased the housing needs of the people. Urgent needs of the available units of house often results on the sale and purchase of the house which is still in the planning process and it is giving rise to the sale and purchase through reservation. Therefore, as a result of it, the sale and purchase of house is conducted through a preliminary sale and purchase arrangement. The preliminary sale and purchase of house will be set out in the Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement (“PPJB”). The PPJB shall be made in accordance with the guidelines which set out in the Minister of Housing Decree Number 09 Year 1995 on Guidance of Conditional Sale and Purchase of House (“Kepmenpera No.09/1995”) along with its example. Along with the enactment of the Kepmenpera No.09/1995, it is expected that the interests of the buyer and the seller will be secured.

The description of object of the PPJB are: (a) the size of the house building along with its architectural drawings, floor plans, and technical specifications of the building; (b) the area of the land, the land status, and all permits related to the construction of the house and its other rights, (c) the location of the land, (d) the house and land prices, and payment procedures agreed by the parties.

Seller’s Obligation

The obligations of the seller are to complete the construction within the agreed time period according to the PPJB. However, this obligation may be waived in the event that Force Majeure is occurred. Prior to the sales and/or conduct of the PPJB, the seller is required to have: (a) approval in principle of project plans issued by the local government and the location permit issued by the Regency/Municipality Land office. Especially for DKI-Jakarta, the seller shall obtain the license of land appointment and utilization (“SIPPT”), (b) letter of information issued by the Regency/Municipality Land Office which explains that the seller has obtained the land to develop the residential, and (c) Building Construction Permit.

In addition, the seller is also obliged to:

manage the registration of purchase of right of land and building;
represents that the land and the house building as the object (“Object”) of the PPJB is fully owned by the seller, and not engaged in any dispute and is not confiscated by the authority;
represents and release the buyer from any claim on both civil and criminal, which may arise in the future in relation to the Object;
take the responsibility for the existence of hidden defects that can only be known at a later stage, in accordance with the provisions of the Article 1504 and 1506 of Indonesian Civil Code;
bear the cost of the certificate registration process.
Buyer’s Obligations

The buyer is obliged to pay the total price of the Object, taxes, and other costs, the fees of the preparation of the notary deed, the expenses of the PPJB, the registration fees of the acquisition levy of land and building of the land on behalf of the buyer.

In the event there is a late delivery of the house building from the seller to the buyer at the agreed time as set out in the PPJB, the seller will be charged a penalty in the amount of 2%o (two per thousand) of the total price of the Object, for each day of the delay. The seller will also be considered to have authorized the buyer to manage the registration of the acquisition of the Object to the related authorities.

In contrast, the late payment of the installments and other costs by the buyer to the seller, the buyer will be charged a penalty in the amount of 2%o (two per thousand) of the total amount of the installments that is already due and payable for each day of the delay, which may result the unilateral cancellation of the PPJB by the seller.

Delivery of Object

The seller will deliver the building to the buyer together with the signing of the Minutes of Delivery of the Object (“BAST”) after the seller and the buyer have fulfilled all of their obligations. The seller shall notify the buyer in writing with regards to the intention of the delivery of the Object within 2 (two) weeks prior to the ceremony of the Object’s delivery. In the event that the buyer is not willing to sign a BAST within 2 (two) weeks, the buyer shall be deemed to receive the Object with all its consequences. If both parties have fulfilled their obligations before the time limit of delivery, the Object may be delivered from the seller to the buyer earlier.

Maintenance of Object

The seller is obliged to maintain the building within 100 (one hundred) day’s period after the BAST signing date. Repairs are carried out based on the project plan and the technical specifications as stipulated in the appendix of the PPJB. If the 100 (one hundred) days period has ended, the maintenance of the Object will be borne by the buyers. The seller shall be released from the responsibility to repair the Object if a Force Majeure is occurred, such as: earthquake, flood, riot, war, or the changes of the house building that was conducted by the buyer.

Assignment

Both seller and the buyer may assign their rights of the Object (“Right”) to the third party if the sale and purchase before the Land Deed Official (“PPAT”) has not been performed. The buyer may assign his Right to the third party, as long as the buyer agrees to pay the administration fee in the amount of 2,5% (two point five percent) of the total price of the transaction based on the seller’s written approval.

Termination

The PPJB shall not terminate by itself if either party has passed away. It may be terminated if the seller cannot deliver the Object on time and the Object is not in accordance with the floor plans and technical specification of building. As a result of it, the seller is obliged to return the money which has been received plus a penalty, interest, and other expenses.

The buyer may request for the cancellation of the PPJB if the buyer is unable to perform his obligation to pay the agreed price, to pay the installments to the bank as the lender, and the buyer has resigned for any reasons. On that condition, if the payment has not yet reached to 10% (ten percent) from the total agreed price, the money which has been paid will be the seller’s right. On a contrary, if the payment has already exceeded 10% (ten percent) from the total agreed price, the seller is entitled to deduct 10% (ten percent) of the total agreed price, and the remaining payment will be returned to the buyer.

Deed of Sale and Purchase

Deed of sale and purchase of the Object must be signed by the seller and the buyer in the presence of the PPAT if: (a) the house building has been completed and is ready for occupancy; (b) the buyer has paid the entire price together with the taxes and other costs and shall bring along the original receipt at the time of signing; (c) right to build application process has been fully processed and the certificate of Right to Build is already registered under the name of the the seller.

Dispute Settlement

The guidance of the PPJB of house is also addressed the settlement of disputes between the seller and the buyer. The parties shall settle the dispute that occurred in relation to the PPJB amicably. However, if there is no settlement, the parties may settle the dispute through the Indonesian National Arbitration Board (BANI). The costs that is incurred of the dispute shall be borne and paid by the parties in the same amount, namely 50% (fifty percent) and 50% (fifty percent).

Samuel Christian, SH

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Building Construction Permit in Jakarta

Building Construction Permit in Jakarta

Background

As the capital city of state of Indonesia, Special Capital Region of Jakarta (“Jakarta”) is a center of economic and trade center in Indonesia, which located in the west island of Java. Furthermore, as the central of government of Indonesia, Jakarta is also occupied by buildings that serve as the center of government offices, residential homes, and places of business. Aside to having been regulated on the laws and regulations on building structure establishment permit, and regulations pursuant to buildings and structures, buildings in the Jakarta area are specifically regulated in the Regulation of Jakarta Special Capital City Region Number 7 of 1991 on Building in the Special Capital City Region of Jakarta (“Regulation of DKI No. 7 of 1991”).

Building Construction Permit

The building constructions in Jakarta area can be conducted by firstly obtaining its permit from the Governor of the Special City Region of Jakarta (“Governor”), in the form of Building Construction Permit (“IMB”). The IMB application shall be made by written form to the Governor and submitted through the Section of Sub-District Office (Seksi Dinas Kecamatan) or Department of Sub-District Office (Suku Dinas Kecamatan). The Governor may refuse the IMB application, if the construction of building (i) is violating or harming the public interest, (ii) would harm the interest of local communities, such as endangering the health or environment harmony, and, (iii) has not perform the written instruction, as the condition of application process. The IMB shall be revoked, if the building construction has not been implemented within a period of 6 (six) months from the issuance of the permit, or in the event of the building construction is not continued, except it is notified by written notice by the permit holder.
Prior to the issuance of IMB, Section of Sub-District Office or Department of Sub-District Office may issue the Preliminary Permit (Izin Pendahuluan). Preliminary Permit is the permit which is given to build, accordance to the stages of building construction activities, while waiting the definitive permit. Preliminary Permit is specifically regulated in the Decision of Governor of the Special Capital City Region of Jakarta Number 76 of 2000 on the Procedures on Obtaining Building Construction Permit, Building Utilizing Permit (Izin Penggunaan Bangunan), and Building Utilize Feasibility (Kelayakan Menggunakan Bangunan), Governor Regulation of the Special Capital City Region of Jakarta Number 85 of 2006 on the Issuance Services of Building Construction Permit, Decision of Governor of the Special Capital City Region of Jakarta Number 147 of 2000 on the Delegation of Authority Service of Determination of City Plan and the Issuance of Preliminary Permit of Building Construction in the Province to Sub-District Office in Special Capital Region of Jakarta Province, as far as on the Issuance of Preliminary Permit on Building Construction.

Preliminary Permit is divided into 4 (four) parts, i.e. Preparation Preliminary Permit (Ijin Pendahuluan Persiapan), Comprehensive Preliminary Permit (Ijin Pendahuluan Menyeluruh), Comprehensive Structure Preliminary Permit (Ijin Pendahuluan Struktur Menyeluruh), and Foundation Preliminary Permit (Ijin Pendahuluan Pondasi).

Building Construction

Each building shall comply with the administrative and technical requirements in accordance with the function of the building. Having specifically regulated in the regional regulation of Jakarta, the technical and administrative requirements of building are also guided by other regulations on building structure, for example, Law Number 28 of 2002 on Building, Regulation of the State Ministerfor Public Works Number 24/PRT/M/2007 on Technical Guidelines for Building Construction Permit, Regulation of the State Minister for Public Works Number 29/PRT/M/2006 on Guidelines of the Technical Requirements of Building Structure, and Regulation of Minister of Home Affairs of Republic of Indonesia Number 32 of 2010 on Guidelines of the Issuance of Building Construction Permit.

The administrative requirements of the building consists of (i) the status of the rights of the land, (ii) the status of building ownership, and (iii) the IMB, while the technical requirements of the building contains, (i) the requirements of building structure, and (ii) the reliability requirements of building. The building construction in Jakarta area should be conducted by contractors and supervised by the Supervisory Director. The Supervisory Director is a person or a group of experts/entities which is charged to supervise the implementation of building construction activities upon the appointment of the building owner, in accordance with theprovision that is stipulated in the building permits. To perform their duties, Supervisory Director should have a work permit and responsible for the implementation of building construction activities.

Furthermore, having already supervised by Supervisory Director, all the construction activities in Jakarta area was also monitored by the Supervision Department of City Development (Dinas Pengawasan Pembangunan Kota). Supervisory Director of a building construction has an obligation to report each result of stage of its construction activities to the Head of Supervision Department of City Development. Each design and construction plan shall comply with the technical requirements, which also considering the security, safety, the suitability of building and environment from the side of architecture, construction, installation and building equipment, including safety on the fire prevention.

Design or building plan shall be made and accountable by the experts that have aduty to designing and planning the building and obtaining a written work permit from the Governor. Plan Drawing and Building Planning consists of (i) architectural drawing plan, and/or (ii) drawing and structural calculation, and/or (iii) drawing and its installation calculation and equipment of building, and/or, (iv) drawing and another calculation which have been fixed. The Expert who had a duty to design and plan the drawing and structure calculation, should had to adjust its drawing and structure calculation, and shall not deviate from the architectural drawing. The building owner is having an obligation to inform the Head of Supervision Department of City Development in case there are replacements of the designer and/or building planning.

Criminal Provisions

The violation of any provisions stipulated in Regulation of DKI No. 7 of 1991 is subject to the imprisonment with maximum 3 (three) months, or fine in amount up to IDR. 50,000 (fifty thousand Rupiah), by or by not seizing or confiscating the equipment, which has been used to commit the violations of the provisions. In addition to the penalties above-mentioned, Governor may determine penalties in order to penalize the violations.

Ivor Ignasio Pasaribu

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Requirements of Residences Ownership By Foreigners According to The Agrarian State Minister Regulation/Head of National Land Agency Number 7 of 1996

Requirements of Residences Ownership By Foreigners According to The Agrarian State Minister Regulation/Head of National Land Agency Number 7 of 1996

This Agrarian State Minister Regulation explains about the requirements of residences ownership by foreigners, within the frameworks of the implementation of the Government Regulation Number 41 Of 1996 On Residences Ownership by the Foreigners Who Are Domiciled in Indonesia (the “GR No. 41 of 1996”). The Foreigners on GR No. 41 of 1996 are the foreigners who own and maintain the economic interests in Indonesia by implementing an investment to have a residential in Indonesia.

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Principle Regulations Governing Batam Island and Its Effect on Property Sector

Principle Regulations Governing Batam Island and Its Effect on Property Sector

Batam has a strategic geographical location as the closest island to Singapore and Malaysia, which strategically located in the international shipping route. As the special zone for multinational trade area, Batam has a special treatment from the Government of Indonesia. This specialization can be seen from the several regulations on Batam status, which are as follows:

Batam Island as the business area of Bonded Warehouse regulated in the Presidential Decree of Republic of Indonesia Number 41 of 1978 as amended lastly by the Presidential Decree of Republic of Indonesia Number 25 of 2005.Batam, Rempang and Galang (which also declared as an Industrial area), is developed to serve several main functions, namely: industrial, warehouse, trade, and transshipment.
Free Trade and Free Port Zone regulated in the Government Regulation Number 46 of 2007 on the Free Trade Zone and Free Port Zone Batam.Batam has been determined as a Free Trade Zone (“FTZ”) and Free Port Zone (“FPZ”) which it gives the guarantee and the protection for all investors to conduct their business in Batam.
Tax liberation regulated in the Government Regulation Number 2 of 2009.Batam was not only determined as place of warehousing, but also for place of processing with the liberation for Import Duties (Bea Masuk), Customs and Excise (Bea Cukai), Value Added Tax (PPN), and Luxury Goods Tax (PPnBM) which can be enjoyed by the entrepreneur who has obtained permission in Batam.
Economic Cooperation regulated in Joint Statement by the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore.On June 25, 2006, the President of Republic of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Republic of Singapore committed the joint statement of the Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore in the Islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

The stipulations of Batam in becoming a free trade area have been attracting the investors both of foreign and local investors. A large amount in the investment flows on Batam also gives a large impact in some businesses in Batam. With regards to the development of Batam island as a FTZ and FPZ, Batam would need a high-quality infrastructure for supporting the investment development; such as residential, entertainment facilities and other supporting facilities. Furthermore, one of the potential businesses in Batam is in the property area.

The great amount of business opportunities in Batam invites many entrepreneurs to establish their business in Batam. There are new properties projects in Batam, with many types and segmentation, such as:

1. Very low-class and middle-class housing development;

2. Low-class houses;

3. Middle-class apartment;

4. The trade center;

5. Luxurious trade center and a high-class apartment in the certain location;

6. Condominiums.

In order to maintain the local and foreign investment in Batam, the Government always assures the legal certainty in the use of property services. There are a several Government Regulations to support the investment itself, which are as follows:

The Government Regulation Number 46 of 2007 on Batam Free Trade zone and Free Port Zone On the Management and the Usage of Land in the Industrial Area of Batam Island;In this regulation, the Government gives the authority to Free Trade Zone and Free Port Zone Management Body (Badan Pengelolaan Kawasan Perdagangan Bebas dan Pelabuhan Bebas) for developing investment, including regulating the allocated land permit or business permit.
The Government Regulation Number 40 of 1996 on Right to Cultivate, Right to Build and Right to Use of Land and the Government Regulation No. 41 of 1996 about residences ownership by foreigners who are domiciled in Indonesia;
Regulation of State Minister of Agrarian/Head of National Land Authority No. 8 of 1996 about changes on Regulation of State Minister of Agrarian/Head of National Land Authority No. 7 of 1996 about the conditional residences ownership by foreigners who are domiciled in Indonesia.
Circular letter of State Minister of Agrarian/ Head of National Land Authority No. 110 –2871 of 1996 about the implementation of Government Regulation Number 41 of 1996.
The Government determines the rights of land which can be owned by foreigner who wish to stay in Batam in order to maintain and manage their investment.

All of these things reflect the commitment of the Indonesian government to fully support the development of Batam island. The development of Batam Island as FTZ and FPZ also make Batam one of a strategic investment area on property and real estate projects in Indonesia.

Grace Tobing

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Legal Aspects of Building in Indonesia

Legal Aspects of Building in Indonesia

Buildings are made to support people’s need of spaces. Building has many functions such as work space, business place, education place, recreation place and many more. In developing countries, especially for small countries, building is used to maximize the use of spaces.

In Indonesia, building is regulated in the Law No. 28 of 2002 on Building (“Law of Building”). According to Law of Building, the definition of building is a physical form of construction works which integrate with the land it stands on, partly or wholly stands over and/or under ground or water, having a function as a place for people to do their activities, either for residence or place to live, religious activity, business activity, sosial activity, culture or any specific activity.

Construction of building is held with the principle of utility, safety, balance, also the harmony between building with its environment. The regulation for building is intended for:
1. Materializing a functional building and suitable with the construction building order which is harmonious and balance with its environment;
2. Materializing an orderly execution of building that ensures technical reliability in terms of safety, health, comfort, and convenience.
3. Materializing a legal certainty in the execution of bulding.

As for building function, according to Paragraph 1 of Article 5 Law of Building, building functions consist of residential function, religious, business, social and cultural, as well as special function. Paragraph 7 of Article 5 stipulated that one building can have more than one function.

Basically, Law of Building is regulating the requirements of a good and fully functional building. As for the implementing regulation of Law of Building is Government Regulation No. 36 of 2005 on Implementing Regulation of Law No. 28 of 2002 on Building (“GR No.36 of 2005”).

The purpose of GR No. 38 of 2005 is to materialize the implementation of orderly buildings, both administratively and technically, in order to materialize a building that is functional, reliable, which ensures safety, health, comfort, and ease of use, and balance and in harmony with its surroundings.

Some of the provisions in GR No. 38 of 2005 still need guidance and technical standard as the guidance to construct buildings. To do so, Minister of Public Works issued the Minister of Public Works Regulation No. 29/PRT/M/2006 on Guidance on Building’s Technical Conditions (“Minister Regulation”). This regulation includes everyone so that every party, person, legal entity and also government body, in constructing building shall fulfil the technical conditions set out in the Minister Regulation.

Retno Anggraeni

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Parties That Can Be Involved In Legal Conflicts in Condominium

Parties That Can Be Involved In Legal Conflicts in Condominium

A life in condominium is different from life in ordinary house. Tenants not only have next door neighbours but also have upstairs and downstair neighbours. In condominium there is also a governing body that regulates the management of the condominium environment, maintenance and the construction of environmental infrastructure and social facilities for the purpose of living together with all tenants in condominium.

However, legal conflicts often arise in living in a condominium. The parties involved in are as follows:

a. Developer;
Developer acts as condominium manager until a Tenant Association is established. Article 65 of Government Regulation No. 4 of 1988 on Condominium regulates the period of condominium management by the developer, at least three (3) months and a maximum of one (1) year since the establishment of Tenant Association.

Problems that often arise from the interests of developer are:
1) Developer decides on the charge of condominium management fees. Potential conflicts that arise are objections to the number of the fee that will be charged towards the tenants, who may feel that it is too high.
2) Developer basically has the principle of getting profit in constructing condominium, and it can be applied by determining service charge or management fees one sidedly.

b. Tenants Association;
Tenants Association is a representative of tenants, it takes care the interests of condominium tenants. Potential conflict that might arise is the decisions made by the Tenants Association which are not necessarily in the best interests of the tenants. This is happened often because there are strongholds that support or oppose the management of a Tenants Association. This has happened in some places.

c. Owner and Tenant;
Owners and tenant as the parties who are using a strata title unit and its environment, have an obligation to comply with disciplinary or house rules in accordance with the Article of Association and Bylaws, to pay management fees and sinking fund, to pay fire insurance premium, and to maintain the strata title unit and its surroundings. Potential conflict that may arise is if there are violations againts the rules, committed by the owner and/or tenants, and also disobedience of the owner and/or tenants in paying the management fees.

Conflicts that are possible to arise as described above are the result of the absence of detailed regulations as a legal protection for regulating the management and condominium’s life in Indonesia. Although there are Law No. 16 of 1985 on Condominium (the “Law of Condominium”) and Government Regulation No. 4 of 1988 on Condominium, but these rules cannot comprehensively accommodate the problems that can arise in living in condominium.

Ways that can be done to accommodate the problems above are as follows:
a. Toset a proper regulation and the provisions in the Article of Association and Bylaws which govern the things that might potentially inflicting legal conflicts;
b. Socialization from the housing agency or Regional Government about life in a condominium;
c. Guidance and instruction on how to manage condominium properly and effectively.

Ardhityo Rompas

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