When it comes to the process of becoming a property owner in Malaysia, you may be required to sign, handle, and receive a wide range of legal documents. It may also benefit you to ensure you keep several copies of each file to protect you in the event of an accident or emergency. By failing to do so, you may end up ill-prepared and be forced to shell out for the unnecessary cost of replacing your land title. Continue reading to familiarise yourself with the 3 types of land title damages you may encounter as a homeowner in Malaysia.
- Missing land title
During the process of becoming a homeowner, you may end up losing your land title. This can occur if it has disappeared from the owner or relevant party’s possession, whether by theft or misplacement. If you notice your land title is missing, you must replace it at the earliest convenience. By failing to do so, you may be forced to spend a considerable amount of time and money in ensuring a suitable replacement arrives in a timely manner. To prevent this from happening, store your land title in a safe but memorable place. When you purchase a property in Malaysia, the transaction is evidenced by the process of registering your name on the land title. If you wish to vacate or sell your property down the line, the land title must be surrendered to the owner or the owner’s bank. If you discover your land title is missing during this time, the entire buying and selling process may be delayed or even postponed.
- Destroyed land title
A missing land title or property title deed refers to the theft or misplacement of your land title from your possession whilst a destroyed land title refers to the theft or misplacement of your copy of your land title as well as the copy stored at the Land Office. This may sound like a rare occurrence, but it is more common than you might think. A destroyed land title is similar to a missing land title in that it requires a considerable amount of time and money to replace, but it may also be subject to a thorough investigation to get to the root of the problem. In addition, it will also perlu melalui warta several times which, essentially, means that an official notice will be sent to invite anyone who wishes to come forward and file an official objection. If this is the case, it will subject to further scrutiny which can delay the entire process from start to finish. With the process of replacing a new land title taking up to 9 months, you must notify the relevant body at the earliest convenience.
- Spoiled land title
A spoiled land title, or land geran as it is otherwise known in Malaysia, is a land title that is considered ruined beyond repair. This can be at the hands of a number of common triggers such as natural phenomena, old age, general wear or tear, or lamination. In the wider world, laminating a document can protect it from these very issues just mentioned, but when it comes to land titles in Malaysia, it may render it void. This is due to the heating process involved and its potential to permanently damage any holograms, security stamps, seals, or ink on the document itself. If you are considering photocopying your land title, it may benefit you to know that the lamination process can distort lines, shadows, noise, or colour and make it difficult to process or even read thereafter. In addition, laminating your land title can also make it difficult to edit it in the event of any changes to your deed or following the purchase of your property down the line. As a result, you may be forced to return to the Land Office to request a replacement which can take up to 14 days to process from start to finish. To prevent this from situation from arising in the first place, store your land title in a pocket file and ensure it is in no position to be damaged by any external factors.
As a homeowner in Malaysia, you may be familiar with the process of acquiring a land title. But whilst they usually tend to be stored out of sight and out of mind, they can also be impacted by a number of common threats. As a result, it can become missing, destroyed, or spoiled. By familiarising yourself with what each term means as well as how you can process a replacement, you can ensure your land title is kept in a safe and secure location and is protected from several risks such as theft, misplacement, natural phenomena, old age, general wear and tear, or even lamination.