Posted by
squiggles
16 yrs ago
We have just received notice from the Buildings Dept that the glass balcony we have installed is unauthorised and needs to be either replaced to its original format, or inspected by an Authorised Person to provide an assessment report for its safety.
Obviously I would prefer to do the latter so am asking for some advice. Does anyone know or have used an Authorised Person (as listed on the BD website) to do any such inspection? And if so, can you let me know who it is?
My biggest worry is that I would get one of these 'Authorised Persons' to inspect the balcony and they would tell me it's unsafe even if it wasn't so they can get the work to repair it. I'm just worried about cross purposes here as these lists also show that the same persons who inspect properties also do repair work!
Any tips would be welcome.
Thanks
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A friend had a similar problem; they arranged a consultant and all was sorted. The guy's name to contact is Doug at 2110-1732.
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thank you so much - I'll give him a call!
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Hi squiggles,
May I ask where you live? How did the Buildings Dept know you had a new glass balcony? We are thinking of doing the same and was wondering how the Buildings Dept finds out.
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The Buildings Dept regularly do inspections on buildings. They appoint consultants and the consultants then send everyone a letter telling them that they have been appointed to look at the building to check for Unauthorized Buildings Work (UBWs). Then after an age (1-2yrs I think) they then send everyone a letter telling them what they have wrong with their flat!!! Now get this....they spend up to 2 yrs doing the work and then give the owners ONLY 30 days in some cases to change the UBWs!!!!
FYI, we have also been told to remove our back door gate (against fire regulations) and we have to replace out front door to fire regulation standards!! Of course no one really knows about all this until you get this list of stuff they tell you to do!! It's like the HK Gov is trying to keep the construction trade going!!
It's almost like, unless it's original, you can't have it!!! But I don't get it...I just look around and there are hundreds if not thousands of people in flats with glass balconies, with iron gates in front of their doors etc......and they don't seem to be in hurry to remove them!!!
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Thanks squiggles. Interesting comments on how the construction trade reaps benefits whether they construct the UBWs or remove them.
Do you live on HK Island, Sai Kung, or in a village house?
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live in a flat on HK island. but no one is immune from the machinations of the Buildings Dept!!
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