Developer besieged over cuts
By Cao Qian and Zhang Zhanpeng |
October 27, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ABOUT 200 homeowners yesterday besieged a property developer's offices, angry that prices have been slashed by 30 percent since they bought their homes.
Residents in Qiuxiafang, a project developed by Shanghai-based Greenland Group in Jiading New Town, demanded that their deals be cancelled.
"We require a refund because the loss we are suffering now is too great for us to afford," said a homeowner, surnamed Wang.
"Of course, for breach of contract, we are willing to take some default punishment."
Wang bought an apartment at Qiuxiafang last December for around 17,000 yuan (US$2,673) per square meter. But the homeowner recently learned that Greenland Group is now offering a price of 11,600 yuan per square meter in an effort to boost sales.
In the past week, homeowners have visited the Qiuxiafang sales office eight times demanding their money back - without success.
Ten police officers were present yesterday, though to date protests there have been peaceful.
A lawyer representing the Greenland Group, surnamed Tang, said yesterday that the developer would negotiate with homeowners individually.
"In principle, we believe both sides should respect the sales contracts. Homeowners who don't get their demands met after negotiations can seek arbitration or help from the court," he said.
It is almost impossible for homeowners to get refunds since their demands are not backed by the law, but industry analysts say developers drastically cutting prices risk damaging their image.
"While it is both legitimate and understandable for developers to take such an approach as they are facing ever-tightening credit and reduced cash flow, this strategy reflects negatively on their image," said Lu Qilin, a researcher with Shanghai Deovolente Realty Co.
"On the other hand, while homeowners may deserve our sympathy, their demands are legally groundless."
Similar clashes between real estate developers and homeowners have occurred at several residential projects across the city in recent days, with frustrations sometimes leading to violence.
Last weekend in Pudong, homeowners trashed the sales office of Coastal Palace, one of China Overseas Property (Group) Co's developments. They were angry that prices had been cut by 20 percent.
Less than 300,000 square meters of new homes, excluding affordable housing, were sold in the city in the first 23 days of October, a drop of nearly 73 percent from same period last year, according to Shanghai Uwin Real Estate Information Services co.
Residents in Qiuxiafang, a project developed by Shanghai-based Greenland Group in Jiading New Town, demanded that their deals be cancelled.
"We require a refund because the loss we are suffering now is too great for us to afford," said a homeowner, surnamed Wang.
"Of course, for breach of contract, we are willing to take some default punishment."
Wang bought an apartment at Qiuxiafang last December for around 17,000 yuan (US$2,673) per square meter. But the homeowner recently learned that Greenland Group is now offering a price of 11,600 yuan per square meter in an effort to boost sales.
In the past week, homeowners have visited the Qiuxiafang sales office eight times demanding their money back - without success.
Ten police officers were present yesterday, though to date protests there have been peaceful.
A lawyer representing the Greenland Group, surnamed Tang, said yesterday that the developer would negotiate with homeowners individually.
"In principle, we believe both sides should respect the sales contracts. Homeowners who don't get their demands met after negotiations can seek arbitration or help from the court," he said.
It is almost impossible for homeowners to get refunds since their demands are not backed by the law, but industry analysts say developers drastically cutting prices risk damaging their image.
"While it is both legitimate and understandable for developers to take such an approach as they are facing ever-tightening credit and reduced cash flow, this strategy reflects negatively on their image," said Lu Qilin, a researcher with Shanghai Deovolente Realty Co.
"On the other hand, while homeowners may deserve our sympathy, their demands are legally groundless."
Similar clashes between real estate developers and homeowners have occurred at several residential projects across the city in recent days, with frustrations sometimes leading to violence.
Last weekend in Pudong, homeowners trashed the sales office of Coastal Palace, one of China Overseas Property (Group) Co's developments. They were angry that prices had been cut by 20 percent.
Less than 300,000 square meters of new homes, excluding affordable housing, were sold in the city in the first 23 days of October, a drop of nearly 73 percent from same period last year, according to Shanghai Uwin Real Estate Information Services co.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
