KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 -- The High Court has ruled that buyers of strata properties at court-ordered auctions cannot automatically be required to settle maintenance charges and sinking fund arrears incurred by previous owners.

According to Free Malaysia Today, the recent ruling arose from a dispute involving Rajinder Singh, who bought an office unit at Megan Avenue 1 for RM1.62 million through a High Court e-auction in January 2024.

The unit's former owner, Forward Wind Sdn Bhd, had accumulated more than RM126,000 in unpaid maintenance charges, sinking fund contributions and other fees before it was wound up.

After Rajinder became the registered owner, the property's management corporation demanded that he pay more than RM182,000 in arr...