There was a discussion in this forum about the topic on commercial versus residential titled properties
The rise of serviced apartments
Posted on 27 January 2012 - 09:48am
Hidden cost
Besides commercial land costs usually being priced higher, properties on commercial titles require owners to pay peak energy, water and sewerage rates as well as quit rent and assessment charges.
"This is an abuse of the word 'serviced apartment'," opines MBPJ councillor Derek Fernandez. "The homeowner must understand the original concept was like with Micasa in KL. It's a commercially run operation. Serviced apartments are paying a premium for the commerciability of places like this. So people should be very hesitant to buy this."
"The buyer is paying property taxes which are normally double those of residential taxes," adds Rehda president Datuk Seri Michael Yam. "Your water price is the same price as the one the Pappa Rich operator pays. The electricity rate is double, and the deposits they take from you are also higher."
Of course, this misnomer can also be very confusing. One Indonesian investor looking for serviced apartments in Bukit Ceylon was disappointed to find at a launch last year that the units being touted as serviced apartments were not much more than "a standard block of condominiums", as he described them later.
"There's no management, rental return, housekeeping services or security policy. It wasn't fully furnished either. I think this is misrepresentation."
In fact, more and more property types are being ambiguously marketed as both residential and commercial, with titles such as SOHO (small office, home office), SOVO (small office, versatile office), SOFO (small office, flexible office), lifestyle suites, serviced residences and serviced suites, among others. Many of these projects' brochures depict young working professionals in suits toting briefcases, next to images of double beds, saunas, barbeque areas and jacuzzis.
- See more at:
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/278343#sthash.LLevRHbX.dpuf