Fuming over renovations
02/07/2007 The Star By Salina Khalid

BUKIT Rimau residents are concerned about the grand renovation works carried out by the neighbouring house owners.

They are worried that the alterations to the original structures would not only affect the structure of the building next-door but also affect the property value of the other units.

“One of the reasons we bought this property was because we know that the owners could not simply renovate their units and change the outlook of the whole neighbourhood.

“If they want to renovate their houses, they have to get approval from the authority.

“Yet some people still renovate their houses and nothing has been done about it,” H.T. Lim said.

Lim had purchased his semi-detached unit in the gated neighbourhood three years ago for RM730,000 and spent another RM300,000 renovating his dream home.


How it should be: That's the standard design of houses in Bukit Rimau.
However, some of the houses in the neighbourhood carried out renovations to their liking.

Lim said some of the renovations were inappropriate and did not fit the concept of the neighbourhood.

However, he felt that beyond the aesthetic value, such renovations could also affect the structures of the neighbouring houses.

One of the houses has been renovated into four storeys from the original two-storey semi-detached design.

Not only was it towering the other houses in the row, it also resembled an office building when seen from the back.

“We do not know if the foundation of the house could take such a load since it was meant for a two-storey structure,” Lim said.

Although the house owner has the right to renovate their property, Lim believed that as a neighbour, he too had the right to protect his property.

“Before the renovation, we didn’t have any reason to fence up our house but now since they are so high, we had no choice but to build a fence.

“We have also planted trees and shrubs to block the direct view from their house. We feel our privacy has been invaded,” he said.

Lim claimed that he had gone to the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), to ask if the premises owner had obtained the approval from the local authority prior to carrying out the renovation works.

He was informed that the owner had only submitted a plan for minor renovations at the back of the house.

“We have gone to the city council several times since 2005 and informed them about our objections but there is no action taken.

“Now, the house is completed and the owner has moved in,” he said, expressing fears that allowing such renovations would lead others in the neighbourhood to follow suit.

He claimed that several other owners have already started renovating their houses.