Earlier this month (3 Apr), a fire occurred at an apartment in Geylang killed 2 foreign workers and injured 3 others. The apartment is barely 200m away from another apartment where a fire has also broken out killing 4 foreign workers four months ago.
URA later said that the apartment has been used illegally as a dormitory for foreign workers.
It said, “The residential unit does not have the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s planning permission to be used as workers’ dormitories. We do not allow such (private) residential properties to be used as workers’ dormitories to accommodate more than eight occupants.”
In such cases, landlords may be fined up to $200,000 for illegally converting their residential unit into an illegal workers’ dormitory.
The incident occurred at a walk-up apartment at Lorong 6 Geylang. When the fire broke out, it was believed that 30 foreign workers had been living inside the apartment.
Its owners who wanted to be known only as Mr and Mrs Bala said they had rented out their apartment to one master tenant.
URA told the media that it investigated 2,500 cases of unauthorised use of private residential properties last year, up from 2,100 in 2013 and 1,800 in 2012, but did not provide a more detailed breakdown.
However, SCDF was able to provide a much clearer picture of illegal conversions of residential units into dormitories.
41% of units are illegal dormitories.
SCDF said that it has inspected 164 apartments and shophouses at Geylang since December last year, and uncovered 68 unauthorised dormitories. That’s 41% of the number of units SCDF has inspected.
The illegal units typically house large number of foreign workers in cramped quarters, hindering escape when a fire breaks out. Also, these foreign workers may cook inside their rooms, increasing the chances of catching a fire.
To make matters worse, http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/04/15/41-of-geylang-apts-inspected-are-illegal-dormitories/
URA later said that the apartment has been used illegally as a dormitory for foreign workers.
It said, “The residential unit does not have the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s planning permission to be used as workers’ dormitories. We do not allow such (private) residential properties to be used as workers’ dormitories to accommodate more than eight occupants.”
In such cases, landlords may be fined up to $200,000 for illegally converting their residential unit into an illegal workers’ dormitory.
The incident occurred at a walk-up apartment at Lorong 6 Geylang. When the fire broke out, it was believed that 30 foreign workers had been living inside the apartment.
Its owners who wanted to be known only as Mr and Mrs Bala said they had rented out their apartment to one master tenant.
URA told the media that it investigated 2,500 cases of unauthorised use of private residential properties last year, up from 2,100 in 2013 and 1,800 in 2012, but did not provide a more detailed breakdown.
However, SCDF was able to provide a much clearer picture of illegal conversions of residential units into dormitories.
41% of units are illegal dormitories.
SCDF said that it has inspected 164 apartments and shophouses at Geylang since December last year, and uncovered 68 unauthorised dormitories. That’s 41% of the number of units SCDF has inspected.
The illegal units typically house large number of foreign workers in cramped quarters, hindering escape when a fire breaks out. Also, these foreign workers may cook inside their rooms, increasing the chances of catching a fire.
To make matters worse, http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/04/15/41-of-geylang-apts-inspected-are-illegal-dormitories/
