Penthouse owners on Haig Avenue have been asked to look out for unauthorized rooftop structures

SINGAPORE – Haig Avenue penthouse owners who have erected unauthorized structures on their rooftops will be given time to tidy up or remove them after inspections by authorities found no structural safety issues.

The case involves eight penthouses in two private residential complexes, Rose Maison and EiS Residences, where authorities have drawn attention to rooftop structures such as glass spaces, roof extensions and windowed rooms.

Inspections began in Junebut it remains unclear whether the homeowners have submitted plans for approval.

In response to an inquiry by The Straits Times, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said: “URA is working directly with the subsidiary owners and development management corporations where reasonable time will be given for the parties to settle or remove any unauthorized structures, depending on the circumstances.”

In order to regulate structures, property owners will need to ensure that the structures meet the authority’s planning and design requirements. This may involve the payment of a Gross Area Fee (GFA) or a professional engineer to assess the structures and obtain the relevant permits.

These inspections reflect a wider trend, with the BCA reporting an increase in unauthorized building modifications in recent years.

Between 2020 and 2023, the BCA dealt with an average of 120 cases of unauthorized structures each year, the majority of which involved ground floor shelters or roof overhangs – a marked increase from the 57 cases per year it dealt with between 2016 and 2018.

The BCA said these shelters and roof coverings do not affect the structure of the building.

In parallel with this investigation BCA is reviewing the scope of construction work which property owners can carry out on their houses and buildings without the need to obtain permission from the authorities.

Separately, the BCA has launched an investigation into possible building code violations by East Coast Road homeowner Ng Jun Kuan, who recently faced a court order on the dismantling of an arbitrary mezzanine in his commercial premises.

Mr Ng’s unauthorized redevelopment included a 676 sq m mezzanine floor. ft. with living and sleeping areas connected by stairs, which was revealed by the management corporation (MCST) of the development.

MCST, represented by lawyers Daniel Chen and Anzel Tan of Lee & Lee, filed the lawsuit in December 2023 after Mr Ng refused to remove the unauthorized structures and return the block to its original condition.

Mr Chen told The Straits Times on Nov 1 that building owners who want to make changes to their premises that affect the appearance of the building must obtain permission from the MCST.

More significant changes – such as an increase in “covered area” – require approval by a 90 per cent resolution passed by the subsidiary owners (the building owners) at a general meeting, as required by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA). ), he added.

In addition to MCST approval, regulatory approvals may also be required. Changes that increase the gross floor area or affect planning parameters require URA approval, the URA and BCA said.

The East Coast Road case highlights the difficulties MCSTs often face when enforcing building bylaws.