I live in Taichung in a house which I purchased two years ago.
My gripe:
I have a neighbour who has violated the building code by extending the frontage of his house so that it completely uses all the land that the house stands on. In other words, he has built on 100pc of his land, instead of 60pc. The structure is an eyesore not to mention illegal.
The story:
The house opposite mine was sold a year ago. The new owners after about 6 months demolished the front wall of the house and then used sheet metal and H beams to extend the house out by 4 to 5 meters. It made our houses stand very close together and we have lost a great deal of privacy. Not only that, but it is a real eyesore. We complained to the buildings department ( I do not know the exact name of the department) in Taichung, and they sent over some inspectors to the premises. Fortunately the builders were still on site and working, as the structure was not yet finished. They were told they had to take it down to which they complied.
After nothing happening for 6 months, last week the same builders arrive at the house and rebuild exactly the same structure as before. We again call up the lands department, but because it is a Saturday, there are no inspectors this time that can go the site immediately (they do not work weekends). The builders finish the structure by Saturday and come Monday when the inspectors inspect the premises, they tell us they can only issue a request for the structure to be taken down, but they cannot enforce it. We are told it is because the structure is now completely finished. They did say that the premises would not get approval for a new electricity/gas/water supply, but as the house previously had all these utilities this is not going to be an issue for them.
My question:
Is there anything more I can do? Another department that I can escalate the complain to? Seems like a massive loophole in the building regulations if there is nothing more I can do.
Unfortunately I think monkey is right. Slum construction is (in practice) legal; concrete needs approval. In reality, most building codes are not properly enforced though. Construction is one of those industries still steeped in corruption and shady dealings.
You could try building an extension to YOUR house up to their new front window, and then stand there making faces on the glass all day. If you really want to piss them off, get a feng shui master to do awful things to their qi.
(04)22289111 分機 1831 is this who you called?
Not exactly very sure of the laws here, but I believe if they are in the process of constructing, they’ll have to tear it down the moment they get there. Since they’re done…
According to what you said, it seems like their extension isn’t causing any public hazards or endangering the neighbors, so I don’t think anyone will be enforcing it anytime soon. Also, the most they can enforce is to give them notice to tear it down themselves until the department finally have time to go tear it down for them.
I guess you could just complain to the city government and make it a big deal. There is a very small chance they’ll figure something out for you.
[quote=“finley”]Unfortunately I think monkey is right. Slum construction is (in practice) legal; concrete needs approval. In reality, most building codes are not properly enforced though. Construction is one of those industries still steeped in corruption and shady dealings.
You could try building an extension to YOUR house up to their new front window, and then stand there making faces on the glass all day. If you really want to piss them off, get a feng shui master to do awful things to their qi.[/quote]
Thank you for the advice. Your final suggestion did make me laugh…I am ordering the sheet metal as we speak…
quote="markula"22289111 分機 1831 is this who you called?
Not exactly very sure of the laws here, but I believe if they are in the process of constructing, they’ll have to tear it down the moment they get there. Since they’re done…
According to what you said, it seems like their extension isn’t causing any public hazards or endangering the neighbors, so I don’t think anyone will be enforcing it anytime soon. Also, the most they can enforce is to give them notice to tear it down themselves until the department finally have time to go tear it down for them.
I guess you could just complain to the city government and make it a big deal. There is a very small chance they’ll figure something out for you.[/quote]
That wasn’t the number we called, we will give it a try and see if we get another department that may help.