SINGAPORE - Owners of penthouse units on Haig Avenue in the bustling Katong area have received a stern warning regarding unauthorized structures on their rooftops.

Following inspections by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), which revealed no immediate structural safety concerns, these homeowners are now on notice to either regularize or dismantle the questionable constructions.

Inspection Findings

This inspection situation pertains to eight penthouses located in two distinguished private residential developments—Rose Maison and EiS Residences—where several unauthorized additions, such as glass-enclosed spaces, roof extensions, and windowed rooms, have piqued the authorities' interest.

While inspections commenced as early as June, the exact status of submitted plans and whether they were approved remains uncertain.

Engagement with Owners

In a statement to The Straits Times, officials from the URA and BCA confirmed that they are directly engaging with penthouse owners and management corporations.

They will be allowed a reasonable timeframe to address these unauthorized structures, which could involve either regularizing them or opting for their removal.

Challenges of Regularization

Getting the structures regularized is no small feat, as property owners must satisfy specific planning and design criteria set by the authorities.

This process might also entail additional costs, including fees for gross floor area (GFA) adjustments and hiring professional engineers to ensure compliance.

Rise in Unauthorized Modifications

The recent uptick in unauthorized modifications has not gone unnoticed; the BCA reported a staggering average of 120 cases involving unauthorized structures annually between 2020 and 2023.

This marks a dramatic increase from just 57 cases per year in the 2016-2018 period.

Notably, these illegal additions primarily consist of shelters on lower floors or roof coverings, which the BCA clarified do not compromise the structural integrity of the buildings.

Legal Cases

In a related scenario, the BCA is also scrutinizing a case involving East Coast Road homeowner Ng Jun Quan, who found himself entangled in legal entanglements for erecting a prohibited mezzanine floor in his shophouse.

The illegal installation, measuring a whopping 676 square feet, featured living and sleeping areas accessed by a staircase, leading the management corporation to pursue legal action after Ng ignored their demands to revert the property to its original state.

Homeowner Responsibilities

Legal expert Daniel Chen noted that homeowners seeking to alter their units significantly, especially those impacts appearance, must first obtain the green light from their Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) counterparts.

Moreover, any significant modifications that expand "covered floor space" necessitate a resolution supported by 90 percent of subsidiary proprietors during a general meeting, as per the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA).

Challenges for Management Corporations

The challenges faced by MCSTs are multifaceted.

Chen elaborated on common arguments made by homeowners, such as citing similar modifications elsewhere in the development or claiming that informal consent was given by managing agents.

Enforcement of Building By-Laws

With unauthorized changes increasingly prevalent, particularly in older developments, enforcement of building by-laws is becoming more complex.

Authorities' Actions

Both URA and BCA take reports of unauthorized structures seriously, investigating them based not only on public feedback but also through regular inspections.

If any unauthorized modifications are permitted to persist, homeowners still might encounter hefty civil penalties due to potential increases in property value.

Penalties for Violations

Under the Planning Act, violators risking fines up to $200,000 can expect severe repercussions for unauthorized constructions.

Similarly, under the Building Control Act, those who bypass necessary approvals could face fines or even up to two years imprisonment.

Conclusion

As the scrutiny of unauthorized rooftop structures intensifies, Katong residents and homeowners alike must stay vigilant.

Could this be the beginning of a significant crackdown on illegal constructions? Stay tuned!