Post date: Sep 09, 2010 2:2:7 PM
SUBANG JAYA: Owners of landed residential property within the Subang Jaya municipality will not be allowed to convert it into commercial lots.
The ruling which has long been upheld by Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has not been changed contrary to belief that it had been relaxed to allow properties along highways and major roads to be converted for commercial use.
MPSJ councillor Roslan Shahir said the council found no reason to allow such conversions as there were ample available commercial properties from which businesses can operate.
"We only allow kindergartens and day-care centres to operate from semi-detached, corner link-houses, bungalows or end-lots with land."
"Kafa (religious schools) are allowed to operate from residential properties temporarily while awaiting their own building to be approved by the Selangor Religious Department," he said.
Roslan said under the council's revised guidelines, those who qualify to apply must seek written approval from neighbouring house owners.
"Under the new guidelines, the house owner must seek written approval from owners of three units on all sides of his property.
The neighbours must approve his plan to convert it into a kindergarten or day-care centre," he said.
Roslan said a house owner who renovated his semi-detached property in Subang Jaya with the intention of using it as a commercial property was slapped with a compound and also ordered to cease all work.
The RM25,000 compound was issued under Section 70(12) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
"The owner cannot plead ignorance of the existing bylaw," he said, adding that the council's One Stop Centre (OSC) committee rejected the application, which was submitted after renovation works started on the house.
Fellow councillor Keshminder Singh who also sits in the OSC said the onus is on the purchaser to be aware that the law forbids conversion of residential property to commercial status.
"We disallow conversion because we want to avoid problems experienced in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya," he said.
Roslan said even kindergartens were required to annually renew their licences to operate from residential properties.
"It's not a permanent policy to allow the use of residential units," he added.