reporter2
03-09-12, 16:35
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/monday/premium/singapore/story/hurt-trying-take-photos-illegal-leasing-homes-20120827
Hurt trying to take photos of 'illegal leasing of homes'
Published on Aug 27, 2012
By Goh Shi Ting
A RESIDENT of People's Park Centre, who tried to obtain photographic evidence of his neighbours illegally hosting guests, got more than he bargained for.
The 60-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Mr C.C. Lee, injured his right arm and back after a scuffle with two Indonesian women, whom he claimed were leasing three residential units to tourists on short-term stays.
His shirt was also torn during the fracas, which happened on Aug 17. He said the two sisters were trying to stop him from taking photos of them when the fight broke out.
Mr Lee said he was gathering evidence of them taking Indonesian tourists from the lift lobby to their home so that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) could take action against them.
"She even shouted 'molest' but I didn't touch her. I managed to run away and went to the police," said Mr Lee, who has been living in People's Park Centre for 30 years and also runs a luggage retail business there.
The police confirmed that Mr Lee has lodged a report and advised him to seek legal recourse.
One of the sisters, known only by her first name Rosmawati, declined to comment when The Straits Times visited her 13th-floor unit last Tuesday.
According to Mr Lee, more than 70 per cent of the 120 residential units in People's Park Centre are being used for short-term lodging. He has been checking on these units and been in touch with URA since 2005.
However, a URA spokesman told The Straits Times that "investigations on the feedback have shown that most of the units identified do not infringe on our planning guidelines".
Leasing or subletting of private residential properties such as apartments, condominium units and landed houses are allowed only for tenancy of six months or more. This is to prevent disturbance and inconvenience caused by transient occupiers to the other residents, the URA said.
From March last year to date, 73 apartments there were investigated, added the URA. Of these, 17 were found to be used for boarding houses or workers' quarters.
One person was charged and fined $6,000 for non-compliance of the enforcement notice. "The unauthorised uses have since ceased," said the spokesman.
When The Straits Times visited People's Park Centre last Tuesday, a maid was seen with a family of three Indonesians holding bags on the 13th floor. When queried, they said they were here on holiday. On being questioned further, the maid took the family down to the taxi stand.
Mr Lee said that it is common to see domestic helpers taking people up to the apartments and the large group of people using the lift means long waits. He was also concerned that some residents are putting up temporary partitions in their units that could be potential fire hazards.
"Their excuse is that these people are friends or relatives but who would believe such a huge group of people coming in and out of the apartment all the time?"
Mr Lee also said one resident has put up a sign saying "Private residence, do not disturb" to deter tourists, who have been knocking on doors looking for a room.
He and six other residents formed an informal group last year to gather information and provide weekly updates to URA. About 30 residents also signed a petition last year to get the authorities to take further action.
"We saw some mattresses being thrown out but after a while, the people started coming back again," Mr Lee said.
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Hurt trying to take photos of 'illegal leasing of homes'
Published on Aug 27, 2012
By Goh Shi Ting
A RESIDENT of People's Park Centre, who tried to obtain photographic evidence of his neighbours illegally hosting guests, got more than he bargained for.
The 60-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Mr C.C. Lee, injured his right arm and back after a scuffle with two Indonesian women, whom he claimed were leasing three residential units to tourists on short-term stays.
His shirt was also torn during the fracas, which happened on Aug 17. He said the two sisters were trying to stop him from taking photos of them when the fight broke out.
Mr Lee said he was gathering evidence of them taking Indonesian tourists from the lift lobby to their home so that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) could take action against them.
"She even shouted 'molest' but I didn't touch her. I managed to run away and went to the police," said Mr Lee, who has been living in People's Park Centre for 30 years and also runs a luggage retail business there.
The police confirmed that Mr Lee has lodged a report and advised him to seek legal recourse.
One of the sisters, known only by her first name Rosmawati, declined to comment when The Straits Times visited her 13th-floor unit last Tuesday.
According to Mr Lee, more than 70 per cent of the 120 residential units in People's Park Centre are being used for short-term lodging. He has been checking on these units and been in touch with URA since 2005.
However, a URA spokesman told The Straits Times that "investigations on the feedback have shown that most of the units identified do not infringe on our planning guidelines".
Leasing or subletting of private residential properties such as apartments, condominium units and landed houses are allowed only for tenancy of six months or more. This is to prevent disturbance and inconvenience caused by transient occupiers to the other residents, the URA said.
From March last year to date, 73 apartments there were investigated, added the URA. Of these, 17 were found to be used for boarding houses or workers' quarters.
One person was charged and fined $6,000 for non-compliance of the enforcement notice. "The unauthorised uses have since ceased," said the spokesman.
When The Straits Times visited People's Park Centre last Tuesday, a maid was seen with a family of three Indonesians holding bags on the 13th floor. When queried, they said they were here on holiday. On being questioned further, the maid took the family down to the taxi stand.
Mr Lee said that it is common to see domestic helpers taking people up to the apartments and the large group of people using the lift means long waits. He was also concerned that some residents are putting up temporary partitions in their units that could be potential fire hazards.
"Their excuse is that these people are friends or relatives but who would believe such a huge group of people coming in and out of the apartment all the time?"
Mr Lee also said one resident has put up a sign saying "Private residence, do not disturb" to deter tourists, who have been knocking on doors looking for a room.
He and six other residents formed an informal group last year to gather information and provide weekly updates to URA. About 30 residents also signed a petition last year to get the authorities to take further action.
"We saw some mattresses being thrown out but after a while, the people started coming back again," Mr Lee said.
[email protected]