‘Flat owners making structural changes to buildings illegal’

KOCHI: As complaints regarding flat owners making structural changes on high-rises start surfacing, builders in the city warn apartment owners against making structural changes to the buildings without obtaining written permit from local bodies.
Builders said that individual flat owners or apartment owners’ associations should not make any changes to the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) of the building as it would affect adversely affect structural stability.Abad Builders managing director Najeeb Zakaria said, “No changes should be made to the columns of the building. Individual owners or apartment owners’ associations cannot puncture, remove or damage beams, slabs or columns. If at all changes need to be made to slabs, it should be done with confirmation of builders through structural consultants.
Individual flat owners and owners’ associations can undertake periodical repair and maintenance works.
Architects and civil engineers say that conversion of open terraces and balconies into rooms has become a common practice in many apartment complexes. According to them all illegal constructions have to be reported to panchayats, and in case changes are made to the RCC frame it should be reported to police.
City-based architect S Gopakumar said that when additional constructions are made, which is a variation from the original approved and licensed plan, it can be categorized as illegal construction. “In such cases complaints should be filed with the local body and the building should be restored as per the original plan,” he said.
Since the Maradu fiasco, many non-resident flat owners as well as prospective investors and home buyers raise concern about non-compliance of law of land.
Meanwhile, the secretary of Chengamanad panchayat said that she has received complaints regarding apartment owners making changes to the structure of large apartment complexes.
“The local body officials will inspect the site, make verifications and prepare a report,” she said.