DBKL: No addition of rooms, internal walls in residential, commercial buildings with strata status

• Tan Kian Aun, president of Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents: While property investors want to maximise their returns on investment, we also need to take into consideration of safety and also overcrowding of the apartment.

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 16): Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has announced recently that residential and commercial buildings with strata status under its jurisdiction are not allowed to add internal walls to create new bedrooms.

In a circular dated July 21 that was addressed to the chairman of all joint management bodies (JMBs), management corporations (MCs), and sub management corporations (sub-MCs) in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, DBKL stated the ruling comes into force on Aug 1.

The circular, which was signed off by Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh, stated one reason for such a ban is that converting living rooms and dining rooms into new bedrooms in an apartment or SoHo unit is in violation of the original Development Order (DO) approved by the relevant authorities, including DBKL. 

Also, with more rooms, it would result in living areas would not receiving enough natural light.

Meanwhile, the increase in the number of occupants for each unit would mean that there will be a rise in traffic and density, which would cause problems for people living in the area.

DBKL’s ban is also meant to prevent to prevent the creation of residential units meant for commercial use, such as hostels.

“While property investors want to maximise their returns on investment, we also need to take into consideration of safety and also overcrowding of the apartment. The landlord must also think of providing a more conducive living environment for the tenant,” said Tan Kian Aun, president of Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents.

“That is why we need to have the Residential Tenancy Act to address such issues so that the interest of the tenants and landlords is safeguarded,” Tan explained.

“Of course, sometimes the landlord is also not aware that the tenant goes and sublease,” he added.

Meanwhile, Datuk Chang Kim Loong, Secretary-general of the National House Buyers Association revealed that “any structural alteration or illegal partionning of rooms are already prohibited under Town & Country Planning Act/Uniform Building By Laws” for residential properties such as terrace houses or condominiums.

“An increase in density is strictly disallowed if no written permission is obtained from the local council,” Chang added.

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