THE letter “Why Renovate? Just buy a Bungalow” (The Star, Oct 12) is very well written and has highlighted a host of problems and issues affecting indiscriminate “approvals” given to house owners to renovate their premises.

To illustrate this serious problem, I would like to describe the situation in Section 12, Petaling Jaya, which seems to me is undergoing a “keep up with the Joneses” in the renovation and upgrading exercise.

Jalan 12/14 and Jalan 12/12 used to be two rows of neat single-storey terrace houses in a quiet neighbourhood. Now every third house in Jalan 12/14 is undergoing renovations to see who can build the tallest house.

An old friend of mine had neighbours on either side of him in that area doing renovations at the same time. This friend is over 75 years old, a serious diabetic and living alone with his ailing wife. Can you imagine the torture they undergo? Now, my questions are:

> Are single storey terrace houses allowed to be converted to double-storey houses?

> Do the owners of the houses undergoing conversion need to get the signed approval of his neighbours before he can get the approval from the local authorities?

> What do the authorities do, when the nuisance of such renovation disrupt and affect the health of their neighbours? Can the neighbours claim medical expenses and hotel lodging for the period the houses are undergoing renovation?

Renovation of terrace houses a nuisance for neighbours