Sale And Purchase Agreement In Malaysia: 4 Important Clauses To Note!

PropertyGuru Editorial Team
Sale And Purchase Agreement In Malaysia: 4 Important Clauses To Note!
Finding the perfect property is no easy feat. Going through all the black and white? Even more tedious.
Especially if you aren’t familiar with all the legal jargon and what normally goes down when buying a property!
But that’s why we’re here! In this article, we explore some basic knowledge on the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA/S&P) that buyers should possess, before charging headfirst into the buying process.
As you know, purchasing a property comes with a whole host of documents (Letter of Offer, Memorandum of Transfer, Loan Agreement etc.).
The Sale and Purchase Agreement, however, is one that requires extra attention to detail. But what is it about this SPA that makes it so crucial in the buying process? Let’s find out.

What Is The Sale And Purchase Agreement, And Why Is It Important To Me?

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The SPA is a legally binding contract which outlines the details of a sale between a buyer and a seller.
It’s important that these conditions are mutually agreed upon between both parties too, hence the term “agreement.”
The SPA protects the buyer by ensuring the seller cannot change the terms and conditions to their benefit.
The buyer here can refer to anyone purchasing the property, whereas the seller can be the previous owner in the case of a sub-sale property, or the developer if you’re buying it brand new.
If the property is received by means of inheritance or auction, however, an SPA usually isn’t involved!
Do note that upon signing your SPA, you’re essentially closing the deal. No further negotiations can take place and both parties need to respect the terms stated in the SPA.
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With that in mind, most people don’t see the power of their SPA until things go south. This is why it’s important!
It lays out all the details, terms and conditions of the transaction in utmost detail so that in the event anything goes wrong, there’s hard proof to fall back on and the interest of both parties is protected.

But… What If I Want To Cancel The SPA?

As a buyer, you can, if ever you find the need to. There’ll be consequences to that though, especially if the agreement comes with a strict clause.
This clause is usually found in every standard SPA, whereby it’ll state that the party who decides to cancel will normally be charged a penalty of 10% of the purchase price.
Now, imagine if the property you were looking to buy was valued at a price of RM500,000. Wriggling your way out of the purchase would mean you’d need to pay the seller a whopping RM50,000! Ouch.
On the other hand, if it was the seller who wanted to get out of the deal, it will be very difficult (if not impossible) to do so.
This is because if the SPA has a specific performance clause, a breach of the agreement could very well result in a legal case against him/her!

What Exactly Does The Sale And Purchase Agreement Consist Of?

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all template in drafting up an SPA!
And though it’s not required per se, you should definitely still appoint a lawyer to help you with drafting up the SPA as well as help with other aspects of the buying process too. This isn’t the time to DIY.
We mentioned earlier that the SPA consists of details of the transaction. But what details specifically? Below are just a few important clauses which should be included.
Other terms may apply, and that’s fine too! Just make sure both parties have agreed on it before it’s added in as a special clause.
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Sample sub-sale SPA from company to company. Image credits: Slideshare

  • Manner Of Payment

This is important for both the seller and buyer not only to manage their finances, but also to prevent any penalties incurred in case the terms are accidentally breached.
You’ll usually see this if you’re buying brand new directly from the developer (primary market).
It’s basically a warranty period, and ensures the developers are responsible for any defects in the property.
  • House Plan

You don’t want to end up suddenly receiving the wrong unit now, do you?
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Plus, it’s not uncommon for deceitful developers to cut corners and take advantage of unknowing buyers by altering the measurements and using cheaper materials.
So make sure to specify materials and measurements to a T!
  • Vacant Possession

Simplified, this basically means when you actually get the keys to the property.
The SPA should state when and how you receive it, as well as the terms and conditions, should the seller fail to deliver vacant possession.

PropertyGuru Tip

Remember to spell the names of all parties involved as well as the name of the property correctly! It seems obvious, but any errors in spelling might make things…complicated.

What Is Vacant Possession?

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Vacant possession is when you, the buyer can finally start moving in and using the property undisturbed.
That means no more construction, no more occupants, and no more of the ex- occupant’s stuff.
Delivery of vacant possession, on the other hand, is when the property is handed over to you. In other words, the delivery of access keys and cards to your newly purchased property.
After you’ve signed the SPA, you should also receive your keys within 24/36 months. To be exact, 24 months for landed properties, 36 months for strata titles.
This is because in Malaysia, most developers start selling units while the development is still under construction (and us being cheapo Malaysians, can’t get enough of the massive rebates that come with it!).
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As for the clause, this is what it might look like in your SPA:
“Vacant possession of the said Building shall be delivered to the Purchaser in the manner stipulated in clause 24 herein within twenty-four (24) calendar months from the date of this Agreement.”
This then ties back to the importance of stating the terms for delivery of vacant possession in your SPA. Because what if the developer does not hand over the keys within the stipulated time?
If this were to happen, the developer would be required to pay you liquidated damages (LAD) at 10% per annum of the property’s purchase price. So at least you get some compensation!

Are There Different Types Of SPA For Different Properties?

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That’s right! Individual and Strata titled properties both require their own separate SPA. Not sure how to differentiate the two titles? Our updated guide here will tell you how.
The SPA templates for each are provided for under the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulations 1989. These are the two schedules.

1) Schedule G – Landed Individual Title

Schedule G is for landed individual properties such as semi-D houses and terrace houses.

2) Schedule H – Strata Title

Schedule H is for Strata properties such as condominiums and flats.
Strata titles are a little fussier and require more detailed SPA because they involve common properties like swimming pools, parking spaces and other facilities.
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Sample template of schedule G from Halim, Hong & Quek

What Is The Cost To Draw Up The SPA, And Who’s Paying?

By now, you should already know how crucial it is to appoint a lawyer to handle your property transaction, be it as the seller or the buyer.
This is important to make sure that both parties are equally represented and protected by their respective legal representative.
Each lawyer will have their own set of legal fees, as they will be taking care of everything that goes on during the transaction.
This includes dealing with the other party, the bank, property agent, and anything else in between. However, speaking of the key document, the SPA is typically drawn up by the lawyer of the buyer.
With that said, it’ll be the buyer’s responsibility to pay for the SPA, and the cost will be included as part of the lawyer’s fees.
The amount is about 3 to 4% of the property’s transaction value, depending on the property price and other charges that come under the Sale and Purchase Agreement Costs.
Check out below for the sample of SPA fees charged by a buyer’s lawyer for a total loan amount of RM500,000:
Sale & Purchase Agreement Costs (RM)
SPA Legal Fees
5,000.00
CKHT 2A
300.00
Statutory Declaration
0
Reimbursements*
550.00
SST (6%)
351.00
Disbursements
1,000.00
SPA Stamp Duty (MOT/DOA)
9,000.00
Sub Total (RM)
16,201.00
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In a nutshell, your SPA is the contract that will protect you in case your deal turns sour. So make sure to be meticulous, and don’t worry about being over-fussy.
It’s not every day you buy a house, so make sure you do it right (with the help of a trusted lawyer!)
Relevant Guides:
Disclaimer: The information is provided for general information only. PropertyGuru International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information, including but not limited to any representation or warranty as to the fitness for any particular purpose of the information to the fullest extent permitted by law. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate, reliable, and complete as of the time of writing, the information provided in this article should not be relied upon to make any financial, investment, real estate or legal decisions. Additionally, the information should not substitute advice from a trained professional who can take into account your personal facts and circumstances, and we accept no liability if you use the information to form decisions.