THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is reminding the public against buying housing projects without Licenses to Sell (LS) and Certificates of Registration (CR), citing the risk of falling victim to unscrupulous individuals or groups and acquiring “sub-standard real estate” properties.

This, as DHSUD noted, rampant real estate advertisements posted on social media, which has become the most convenient platform for non-compliant developers to pull off their illegal activities and “victimize” unsuspecting buyers.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar stressed that real estate developers must secure LS and CR from DHSUD prior to the selling of real estate projects to ensure that they pass the minimum standards as required by the law.

“Real estate projects without LS-CR are prone to risks which include undersized lots, low-quality units, issues in land titling, and limited access to basic utilities and services,” Acuzar explained.

“We encourage home buyers to be vigilant and demand for these documents (LS and CR) before letting go of their hard-earned money,” he added.

The DHSUD, through its Public Assistance Service (PAS), has been proactively reminding the public against scammers in the real estate industry through social media posts and media releases.

In fact, it has crafted its “DREAM Tips” – an easy-to-remember acronym on what to do when buying real estate property. DREAM stands for “Demand, Read, Engage, Ask and Move.”

According to DHSUD-Housing and Real Estate Development Bureau, real estate projects that require LS/CR from DHSUD include subdivision lots, house and lots, condominium units, socialized housing, and townhouses. These documents are required before the selling of units is allowed.

The selling of memorial lots, columbariums, farm lot subdivisions, commercial subdivisions and industrial subdivisions is also being regulated by DHSUD under other types of real estate projects.

Acuzar has committed to improving the implementation and monitoring of existing regulations set by DHSUD in partnership with other government agencies concerned with protecting home buyers.

Under PD (Presidential Decree) 957, selling without LS/CR is punishable with stiff administrative fines and is considered a penal offense subject to the filing of appropriate criminal charges.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi