Renovating a Private Residential Property Part II

Renovating a Private Residential Property Part II

Depending on your property and type of renovation, you may need to obtain planning permission from URA. 

Which renovation works require approval from URA? Additions and alterations to your property require approval if they:

• affect the external facade of the building, or
• result in an increase of the Gross Floor Area (GFA)

DEFINITION OF ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS (LAND-TITLED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

To qualify as an “Additions & Alterations’’ to a landed-titled residential property, the following criteria must be complied with:

1. the proposed additional gross floor area does not exceed 50% of the approved gross floor area;
2. the external walls that are to be removed and replaced with new walls do not exceed 50% of the approved external walls;
3. structurally changes to the existing landed dwelling house such as replacing or constructing new columns/beams and reconstructing existing floor slabs do not exceed 50% of the existing;
4. changes/replacement of entire roof, regardless of increase in height as long as it does not involve an additional storey;
5. addition of an attic provided the increase in GFA is less than 50%;

Proposals that do not comply with any of the above criteria are considered as “Reconstruction’’. The following works are deemed as reconstruction regardless of whether the works exceed 50% of the existing building:

1. Increase in storey height – Changes/replacement of any part of the roof when it involves an additional storey
2. Change in housing form – Works which result in a change to the landed dwelling house form, for example, from semi-detached house to detached house.

RENOVATING YOUR HOME (LAND-TITLED RESIDENTIAL)

Check if your renovation works are covered under the Planning Permission Exemption List. If they are not, you will need to obtain approval from URA.

Landed property owners can also use the Landed Housing e-Advisor to evaluate if your proposed works comply with Development Control Guidelines.

Landed property owners can also engage a Qualified Person (QP) to lodge the renovation works under the Plan Lodgment Scheme (Additions & Alterations) if your property is located in certain designated landed housing estate and meet certain criteria.

RENOVATING YOUR HOME (STRATA-TITLED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY)

Generally, internal renovation works within your strata unit do not require planning permission. However, renovation works which affect the external façade of the building or result in an increase in Gross Floor Area (GFA) will require approval from URA.

In particular, for proposed Additions & Alteration works within strata units which involve an increase in GFA, the applicant is required to obtain a letter signed by the Secretary or Chairperson of the council of the MC confirming that the MC has by 90% resolution authorised the carrying out of the proposed works for the strata unit.

This authorisation letter duly signed by the authorised signatory of the Council of the MC is to be submitted to URA by the applicant together with the proposal as part of the planning application.

To download the format of the authorisation letter, please click here. 

The above requirement is only applicable to non-conservation strata-titled residential properties.

HOW TO APPLY?

How do I apply for planning permission? Please refer to the step-by-step guide – How to Apply: Development Application via CORENET eSS.

The application fee for additions and alterations varies. Please refer to the Fees Schedule for Development Applications (PDF).

WHO TO CONTACTI need help. Who can I contact?
Contact the Development Control Group at:

Tel: (65) 6223 4811 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm)
Email: ura_dcd@ura.gov.sg  

Reference from URA site.

Read More

Renovating a Private Residential Property Part I

Image from homedsgn.com

Renovating a Private Residential Property Part I                          

Before you begin renovating your house, the following are some points or guidelines you need to know. Renovation Work Sanitary Work Electrical Work Air-conditioning Work Fire Safety Gas Service Window Safety & Maintenance Guidelines For Renovation Work Private residential properties would generally include landed houses, apartment buildings, condominium, cluster housing and residential units in a mixed development. Renovation works in private homes would constitute one of the following: - additions and alterations to existing landed dwelling houses - additions and alterations to existing apartments or existing residential units of strata-subdivided buildings - reconstruction of existing landed dwelling houses Not all renovation works would require approval of plans from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). There are some building works, which are minor in nature, that are exempted from approval. A list of the exempted works is given in 'The Schedule' of the Building Control Act, and is reflected herewith. - Exemption From Approval For Minor Building Works And Alterations To Residential Buildings Where the proposed building works are not exempted, building plans will have to be submitted by a Qualified Person to the Commissioner of Building Control for approval. The following are some information on the requirements for approval of building plans. The normal submission system applies to all sorts of renovation works for private homes, while the simplified submission system applies only to additions and alterations to landed houses. - Works Not Requiring BCA Approval - Application For Approval Of Building Plans Under The Normal Submission System - Application For Approval Of Building Plans Under The Simplified Submission System Besides submission of building plans, structural plans submission would also be necessary if there are structural works involved in the proposed renovation. The following outlines the requirements to procure approval of the structural plans. - Application For Approval Of Structural Plans No building works shall commence until a permit to carry out building works is obtained from the Commissioner of Building Control. The grant of this permit can only be considered after the structural plans are approved. Where there are no structural works involved, the application for a permit is based on the approval of building plans instead. The following are the requirements on the application for a permit to carry out building works. - Application For A Permit To Carry Out Building Works Upon completion of the renovation works, a Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) or a Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) will have to be obtained for the occupation of the completed building. The issuance of CSC by the Commissioner of Building Control would legally conclude the completion of the renovation project. The following are the requirements to procure a TOP and a CSC. - Application For Occupation Of Completed Building Works Whether the renovation works require approval of building plans from the BCA or not, owners should also check for the need to obtain clearances from other authorities or compliance with caveats and by-laws which may apply to their premises, including rules and regulations adopted by the management corporation. Frequently Asked Questions On : Here are some frequently asked questions on: - Building Plans - Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) / Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) - What are the renovation works which are allowed in the shelter? Guidelines For Sanitary Work A all sanitary works are required to be carried out by a Registered Sanitary Plumber (RP). Please click here for the list of licensed sanitary plumber. Guidelines For Electrical Work Before you begin your electrical work installation to your home, your are required to engage a PUB licensed electrical contractor to carry out the electrical work in your house. Please click here for a licensed electrical contractor. You also required to apply the electrical work permit for certain types of electrical work if required. Please click here for the Electrical Work Permit Form. - Electrical Safety Guidelines For Air-conditioning Work All air-conditioning works do not require approval of plans or a permit to carry out the works. However, the installation of supports for air-conditioning units on the exterior of all buildings except landed houses must be carried out by a trained installer. Please click here for a list of trained licensed air-condition installer. Other Useful Information - Legislation Of Air-con Units - Methods Of Retrofitting - Frequently Asked Questions Please click here for further enquiry on Installation of Aircon Brackets. Guidelines For Fire Safety Any person who wishes to commence or carry out any proposed fire safety works in any building shall apply in accordance with the Regulations made under the Fire Safety Act to the Fire Safety and Shelter Bureau for approval of the plans of the fire safety works. Such plans shall be prepared and submitted by Qualified Persons (QPs) which are registered architects or professional engineers. Please click here for detail submission procedures. Guidelines For Gas Service Any installation or alteration of gas piping, you are required to engage a Licensed Gas Service worker (LGSW) to carry out job. Please click here for a list of Licensed Gas Service worker (LGSW). - Gas Safety Guidelines For Window Safety For any installation or alteration of Windows, you are required to engage a Trained Windows Contractors. For a list of Trained Windows Contractors, please click here. - Frequently Asked Questions On Windows

Read More

Knowing the Renovation Guidelines (for HDB owners)

Knowing the Renovation Guidelines (for HDB owners)

 Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006.

To summarise, HDB flat owners need to:

1. Engage an HDB Registered Renovation Contractor (RRCs) to carry out renovation works. Otherwise, the owners can be fined up to $5,000 and other penalties;
2. Ensure that certain types of renovation work need a permit from HDB before commencing such works;

3. Ensure that the renovation work which may result in the following is not allowed to be carried out:

• Overloading the structure which may affect the structural integrity and safety of the building;
• Affecting the external facade/form of the building or public safety;
• Creating public nuisance, posing fire hazard or encroachment to public area;
• Infringing lease agreement, relevant statutory regulations or requirements, etc.

Read More