Chance to legalise illegal renovation

[pcyeoh]

More than 30,000 homeowners who have illegally extended or renovated their homes in Subang Jaya can escape heavy fines if they submit their plans to the council and pay a flat rate of RM500. I understand that this amnesty period is exteneded to other local and city councils in the whole of Selangor. But I just want to focus on our community only.

The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is giving homeowners a one-year grace period, from March 1, to submit their renovation plans.

This means those who had not submitted renovations plans to the council are exempted from the penalty, which is 10 times the processing fee.

Property owners would still have to pay the plan processing fee, which could range from RM100 to RM1,000 depending on the extension, and compound arrears.

In a statement, Bandar Puteri 8 Residents Association (BP8RA) and Rukun Tetangga chairman Datuk Samson Maman said, “A programme I initiated in 2013 with Puchong MP Gobind Singh, councillor Chang Kim Loong and with the assistance of councillor Steven Chin, council building department director Mohd Ariffuddin Kamari and town planning director Ismail Muhamad as well as my participating 80 residents has finally borne fruit today.

[pcyeoh]

What does this imply? Bottom line in this exercise is to obtain a Certificate of Fitness (CF) which will enhance the value of your property in the event of a sale. Also, in the event of a fire, your insurance company will entertain your claim. On the other hand you will have to pay a higher assessment rate. But at least you sleep in peace as MPSJ can demolish unapproved renovation.

[bslee]

Oooo!...I'm so glad I'm entirely EXCLUDED and NO FEAR of this..my home is bog standard, only maintained as designed. Especially those terrace or linked homes change the frontage elevation entirely that it look so distant or out of place from its original theme dwarfing the neighbors home to dunno what..good luck to them. MPSJ wrecking ball may come soon..

[Naka]

The owner of these 30,000 homes are so lucky to escape fines etc.

Imagine the damages if MPSJ sent the wrecking balls flying to these 30,000 homes, the result will be worst than the current bombings in the middle east.

For a little fees, the value of these houses should go up immediately

[bslee]

The demolition wrecking ball by MPSJ is NO joke! I've seen it in front of one house near my place some years ago. They can and will do it if they choose to take action. The machinery was already there ready to demolish the front porch of one end lot. I just happened to drive past there that morning.
BTW, I've been hearing the property prices like one at USJ4 terrace. 800K. Another one (next to my son's rented home) asking for around 1.5k monthly rental. Many people still not concerned to buy their own home soonest?..still spend makan2 the most delicious now pricy food outside, jolly, new car, shopping here there every holiday and weekend? Its their peril. Of course this exclude all the wise ones who already bought a home or scrape every bit of savings to buy a.s.a.p.

[Oiip]

Why the f the council legalise something which is illegal in the first place..?

This is no difference with the big discounts given to the traffic offenders..

Those law-abiding residents who engaged architect or draughtsman to prepare proper drawing for approval defIinitely spent more than RM500, and now those who broke the rules can get away with just a mere Rm500 to legalise their wrongdoings..

Whether is be-end or pakatan who run the state, it is just a bunch of no brainers ..

[bslee]

It all boil down to attitude and mindset of offenders, not fully the due action of authorities to catch up with offenders. ITS THE LOCAL MINDSET here.
Countless don't pay fines till the last minute or till they're served a court order. I too agree that traffic fine discounts is never the solution. Revoking or suspending the licence may do good. The demerit point system doesn't seem to exist. Anyone heard cases?
Countless will still carry on renovations thinking they can do as they like and get away with anything and ultimately saving whatever they can save. They also presume authorities enforcement is always bad and thus there's always a huge chance they get away with whatever they've done. They don't give a shit to what others think.
Law abiding and fully responsible people are a minority. The rest are all capable of anything when there's good opportunity.
So what solution? Swift draconian action or kasi chance 1st then come down like a ton of bricks?. Its all a double edged sword in this civilization here. There's no one solution to please all. There's a ton of irresponsible events going on every minute.

PC Yeoh: I assume those illegal renovations (presumably never had any plan submission and due approval) must also conform to building by laws to be all legitimate and approved. Can I assume all those renovations that run foul of building by laws have to be demolished and rebuilt to conformity? Or is it ALL illegal and foul renovations will be made legal in due course?

[Mat Bruce]

What does this imply? Bottom line in this exercise is to obtain a Certificate of Fitness (CF) which will enhance the value of your property in the event of a sale. Also, in the event of a fire, your insurance company will entertain your claim. On the other hand you will have to pay a higher assessment rate. But at least you sleep in peace as MPSJ can demolish unapproved renovation.

My architect submitted my drawing but never got me the CF. so does this allow me to get CF?

[currymee]

Looks like MPSJ is going to "halal" kan all the "haram" renovations. Now , I feel like an idiot for conforming to the MPSJ Building codes and bylaws. Hell, I should have maximise the building from front gate as main door to the back gate as back door and build a 6 stories communist style block flat and rent them out as hostel for the coming 1.5 million !

[cskok8]

They are just following the "leaders". Remember the general's bungalow which collapsed during the landslide did not even have a plan.

[pcyeoh]

PC Yeoh: I assume those illegal renovations (presumably never had any plan submission and due approval) must also conform to building by laws to be all legitimate and approved. Can I assume all those renovations that run foul of building by laws have to be demolished and rebuilt to conformity? Or is it ALL illegal and foul renovations will be made legal in due course?

Yes, you are right to say that.

This exercise is to regularise and put in place procedures that ought to be followed. It is not to halalise what is haram. Remember, MPSJ still got to approve your reno plan. This is also for those who went ahead with their renovation without a plan and without MPSJ approval. Now you just get a Draftman selected from their approved list to draw up the plan of your reno . If your reno plan is non compliance, then MPSJ will disapprove and the owner must tear it down or MPSJ will do it and charge the owner. They have drastically reduced the penalty (for going ahead with your reno without approval.) and making it easy to submit. Example no need an architect to endorse it. For those whose contractor ran away and pocketted their submission money, this exercise can be considered as a second chance. For those who bought their houses which was renovated without approval by the previous owners, you can also halalise your property now.

[Oiip]

If this is the case, then the thread topic is very misleading...

Bottom line is - cannot and should not legalize something which is illegal..

Council can give 2nd chance to defaulters to resubmit their renovation plan for approval. If the existing renovation fails to comply, just has to be demolished and reapply for new renovation approval.

[pcyeoh]

If this is the case, then the thread topic is very misleading...

You are absolutely right. To be frank, this is not my heading. It is the headlines from The Star Metro. Read the details here.
http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/comm...e-period-to-s/

[bslee]

If this is the case, then the thread topic is very misleading...
Bottom line is - cannot and should not legalize something which is illegal..
Council can give 2nd chance to defaulters to resubmit their renovation plan for approval. If the existing renovation fails to comply, just has to be demolished and reapply for new renovation approval.

It must be apparent that something illegal have to be addressed properly by demolition or remodel to conformation. If going by earlier implication that everything or most are to be legalized, then the rule of building by laws are of no purpose and overridden to suit the situation or by whatever reasoning they have. If its to halal everything, then your implication is correct and the rule of law and enforcement is in serious question and not to be trusted.
As for traffic fines. Personally I do not agree with the discounts given just for them to streamline or ease their outstanding work. Traffic offences and building offences are 2 very different scenario, though they do share certain principles of enforcement. But then, to somebody who have a string of traffic offences and a huge sum to pay..he may think very very differently and don't care fair or not. Its the opportunist character.

[Oiip]

... For those whose contractor ran away and pocketted their submission money, this exercise can be considered as a second chance. For those who bought their houses which was renovated without approval by the previous owners, you can also halalise your property now.

These are just lame excuses..

Contractor ran away and pocketed the submission money ..
- Renovation should not start before approval has been obtained.

Bought a house which was renovated without approval by the previous owner..
- For major renovation that required approval, it is not difficult to notice a house has been renovated. Buyer should asked for the approval drawing/letter issued by Council and this should be one of the conditions stated in the SPA.