Sifu sekalian, this year seems unlucky start.

Need help on rental agreement on a retail lot with local shopping mall.

TLDR,
1. Shopping Mall Landlord issued Letter Interest
2. We paid some money
3. Landlord issued Letter Offer
4. We paid full downpayment
5. Landlord ask us start renovation while they preparing Tenancy Agreement. They keep mentioned LO is actually binded agreement.
6. We submitted all 3d drawings, design, marketing plans and all - they love it
7. We chase Tenancy Agreement to start work, they delayed almost 4 months - then out of sudden terminate everything
8. Most funny is - they forfeit our downpayment as well and blame us didn't start renovation when letter offer issued.

Swear to god, we did nothing wrong. We suspect they found some better brand to replace us.

Is above legal? Where can we file complaint.

Thanks all!

Because as this is a huge sum investment, we have raised our concern that we need the TA due to worry finer small prints we might disagree.

2. Thats why we produce all drawings, 3d, everything in the meantime waiting the TA which landlord mentioned TA should be ready a while more only...

3. Another reason is, again as a huge investment - they provide us Capex for ground works such as flooring and aircond (abit la) - supposedly to be issued after sign TA that mentioned in LO <-- maybe thats why they refused to issue.

4. Question of why wait 4 months... because we continuously chase, they ghosted us as well - We actually chasing for holidays sales that time. Now we missed it.

5. Then tertiba come back and bite us say we didn't do anything.

This post has been edited by eldenring: Mar 14 2025, 04:10 PM

Another thing is we actually started some of the works, but as TA nowhere to be seen, we begin to worry.

During the 4 months, we continuously chase TA but no new

This post has been edited by eldenring: Mar 14 2025, 04:05 PM

Yes they handed over after LO signed, but not complete. Means for example we rent 5000sqft. They only handover 3000sqft. Another 2000sqft not fully handover.

My contractor mentioned if they issue start work, all manpower will go in, cannot halfway here halfway there. This will incur huge cost.

This post has been edited by eldenring: Mar 14 2025, 04:13 PM

We already lost about half million ringgit for all preliminary works.

We have too many emails and whatsapp that we cant proceed without TA. They agreed and keep saying it will be issued very soon and ask us to start work first.

Its kinda chicken and egg, if we kickstart - everything need to keep continue. Thats what we worried.

In fact there are many proofs that they agreed Ta will be issued very soon and capex will immediately issued. Dont worry!

Yes of course our company did. Just see what public opinions and equipped with better knowledge. Who knows.

If wait lawyer, in our mind - sure everything we correct.

Yes we did consult. It seems nothing wrong at all.. Its not our first business anyway.

You are right, thanks! - there are too many things cant disclose. But just feeling really unethical if you look into all the details. But hey, business world right. Definitely not trying blaming, or victimizing ourselves la...

I always feel that if read through this kind of story, mayyybe preventable.

Until wacky angel comes in with universal red card. Can literally go any threads and say "You didnt disclose everything, not possible to advice u, go hire lawyer,doctor,psychiatrist..", means no more topic already.

This post has been edited by eldenring: Mar 14 2025, 08:46 PM

We are not a big company, dont have legal department. I mean when you sign LO, which seems just like any other LO - have you ever thought of any landlord wont issue TA?

We wait because we need to settle the ground works, which paid by them. Not us. Without the ground works, we cant start anything.

In the LO they stated they will pay the ground works once TA signed.

As mentioned, never in our mind that they won't issue TA. We did email and all to chase the TA, but it always comes with reasons like waiting management, change of head, etc.

Takkan, we terus send a legal to them. As one user pointed out, takkan break the relationship for this long term business. Once we in their mall, it going me maybe 6 or 9 or more since heavy investment kan.

When to pay the balance deposit, - paid all
When to grant vacant possession, - handedover half / not complete handover
When to sign tenancy agreement - no mention when they issue TA

Fully agree. But its a berhad company. Cant let them just use tactic and simply bully. Yes underdtand you guys dont havr full Lo to feedback.

In fact we have full trail of they said TA already on the way, just start renocation. We initially started a bit putting up hoarding board, measures and do all neccessary planning until halfway.. our bosses worry about their investment.

I mean plain common sense, you cant invest maybe 2-3m into it without TA, thats just againts any logic.

And as stated, we cant wait halfway and simply send a legal letter demanding as we kena jaga the relationship right. Ppl is landlord ma.

Legally, hope the lawyer do their best but just wanted find out any other thing can do - not just sit diam diam and blame on past, should do better in future or blame anyone.

My point is - maybe we are not the only one, they can just rinse and recycle this tactic over and over again because all victims blame themselves, ask forums and cant fight big corp.

Honestly even my oversea friend said thats why do business in malaysia is scary.

This post has been edited by eldenring: Mar 15 2025, 04:47 PM