According to real estate agents, these squatters have made themselves at homes in unfenced plots and later, on the pretext that they own the land, sell the property below market prices to unsuspecting buyers and investors.

U Wanna Soe from Phoe La Min real estate agency said, “Trespassers are building huts on the vacant plots of land which are not fenced. The owners leave their property unattended and unguarded and are unaware of the situation. These illegal squatters then sell the plots of land as if they own them.

“We have seen situations like that cropping up. I would like to advise landowners to fence their plots of land if they have not done so or demarcate them. And they should also inform their immediate neighbours as to the ownership of the land and also inform the ward administrative officers,” he said on Tuesday.

The modus operandi of these trespassers is simple. They put up temporary fences around the plot of land which has been vacant for some time. They then build temporary huts and shacks within a day and start living there.

If the owner does not show up within a week or two, the trespassers will proceed to sell the land at whatever prices the unsuspecting buyers offer, U Wanna Soe added.   

However, U Wanna Soe added that not all ‘buyers’ were innocent victims of the scam.

“Some buyers are ignorant of the market value while others are opportunists and know that the deal is a scam, but they buy in the hope of making a quick buck.”

In Mandalay, thousands of squatter huts and shacks in Pyigyitagun and Chan Mya Tharsi townships have been cleared by MCDC employees on bulldozers at the end of 2012.

The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) announced on Feb 16 in Mandalay daily newspapers, that owners have to fence vacant plots or risk the land being seized.

The announcement also said that owners who leased the land would have to apply for permits to build a structure within six months of the lease grant. Failing which, the MCDC has the power to seize the land by annulling the grant.

Although the MCDC made the announcement in 2013 and once in 2014, there are still many vacant plots without fencing or structures. The MCDC also said that fencing the land and building structures will add to the beautification of the city.

“The number of fraudulent land deals have been on the increase,” said U Win Aung, another real estate agent.

“Buyers take risk in the hope of quick profits because these plots are sold at such low prices. Many profited from the scam but others have lost their money after the scam was discovered,” he added.

U Win Aung also said land matters were complex and may lead to complications. He said it was important to get advice from experts.

 

– Translation by Win Thaw Tar