Can the owner refuse to pay the property fee on the grounds of housing quality problems?

Legal analysis: Because the housing quality problem is the purchase contract relationship between the owner and the developer, and the property management fee is agreed by the owner and the property management company according to the property management contract, it is two different legal relationships. For the quality problem of the house, the owner should hold the developer accountable and has no direct contact with the property management company. Owners cannot use this as an excuse to default on management fees.

Legal basis: Article 944 of General Principles of Civil Law of People's Republic of China (PRC), the owner shall pay the property fee to the property service provider as agreed. If the property service provider has provided services in accordance with the agreement and relevant regulations, the owner shall not refuse to pay the property fee on the grounds that he has not accepted or does not need to accept the relevant property services. If the owner fails to pay the property fee within the time limit in violation of the agreement, the property service provider may urge him to pay it within a reasonable time limit, and the property service provider may bring a lawsuit or apply for arbitration. The property service provider shall not stop power supply, water supply, heat supply and gas supply to demand payment of property fees.