Ramgate Park, Prime apartment blocks: Off-the-plan buyers furious at changes to units
Furious homebuyers who purchased off-the-plan apartments in two Sydney unit blocks claim the Chinese-backed developer failed to build entire rooms and courtyards as promised — replacing them with communal nature strips.
NSW
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Furious homebuyers who purchased off-the-plan apartments in two Sydney unit blocks claim the Chinese-backed developer failed to build entire rooms and courtyards as promised — replacing them with communal nature strips.
Many disgruntled buyers were forced to settle this week, unable to find spare cash for legal action against JQZ, the developer of the Ramsgate Park development in Kogarah and Prime towers in Macquarie Park.
But at least 35 buyers are joining forces in a class action to demand contracts are ripped up and their deposits refunded, rejecting offers of a 2 per cent discount or a replacement apartment by JQZ.
The buyers have been in discussions with their lawyers Colin Biggers and Paisley this week after being told by the developers they cannot cancel their purchases.
Buyers at Prime have also complained to Fair Trading accusing JQZ of issuing misleading and deceptive contracts.
Recruitment consultant Neke Rezitis bought a two-bedroom apartment with study off the plan at the 530-unit Ramsgate Park development two years ago.
She discovered upon inspection last week the study did not exist, although the apartment size remained the same.
“We met with the developer last week and they offered me 2 per cent off the commercial price — that’s $15,000 but the extra room itself if I were to sell is worth at least $80,000,” she said. “They can stuff their 2 per cent — I want my deposit back.”
Buyer Freddy Yang has been given a nature strip measuring 13 sqm instead of the 30 sqm courtyard he thought he was getting.
“I don’t want to sit on a patch of grass I can just about get a deck chair on. I paid for 30 sqm courtyard — how am I supposed to sit and enjoy a coffee and life on a piddly patch of green?” he said. “I don’t want this apartment, I want my deposit back.”
Financial manager John Flinn said his 45 sqm courtyard had been reduced to 12 sqm while chef Sean Fan has had his 37 sqm backyard sliced back to 15 sqm.
Marina Lee, who has bought an apartment in the Prime development, said: “I’m in the class action, I’ve lost a study and my balcony has been split into two parts, it’s now completely useless. This is not the apartment I agreed to buy.”
Lawyers for JQZ, which describes itself as a prestigious Australian-Chinese developer, say the majority of prospective buyers are happy.
“We are delivery (sic) what was promised and there has been no contrary evidence provided to us or our lawyers other than unsubstantiated statements or opinions,” a lawyer for the firm said.
“If the area of the lot being purchased is reduced by a certain percentage (usually 5 per cent or more), the purchaser is entitled to cancel the contract and get a full refund.
“If there is a substantial change in the property described in the contract, then we also allow the purchaser to cancel the contract and get a full refund of their deposit.”
