Bahrain Real Estate News
Muharraq may grant permission for rooftop extensions
Muharraq will soon permit residents to build apartments on their rooftops, as the families grow bigger.
The current laws that ban rooftop extensions are now being re-considered by the Muharraq Municipal Council.
The Council had initially submitted a proposal to Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister, Dr. Juma Al Ka’abi, to give permission to a list of Muharraq families to expand their homes, so that their adult children could be allowed to stay with them.
However, the Minister had rejected this proposal saying that it would be a breach to municipal regulations, and that the amendments had to be carried out to existing building legislations, so that the families and others could be granted permits in future.
New set of regulations had to be mapped out by Councillors during their weekly meet to enable rooftop expansions, although under strict guidelines. These include limiting the use of rooftop apartments only to immediate family members. Owners will not be allowed to rent them out as flats or for business purposes. The apartments will have to use separate electricity supply.
The Vice-Chairman Abdulnasser Al Mahmeed agreed that such a solution was arrived upon, by taking into consideration every aspect and this was the only solution available.
For instance, a newly-wed couple has the option of either renting an apartment for more than BD200 per month which could leave a big hole in their pockets or stay in a single room at their parents’ home, alongside one their one or two children. Considering the additional difficulty that one has to deal with, when purchasing land and building a home, the couple will have no other option left, he explained.
The rooftop extensions will help in keeping families together, and utilize whatever is otherwise left behind as wasted space, Al Mahmeed said.
However, to ensure that the expansion will not be used for commercial purposes, the building legislations have been amended to oblige the user to have a separate electricity connection. This will also help ensure that the main electricity connection of the home is not overloaded.
The Council's amendments will shortly be presented to Dr. Al Ka’abi to study.
Posted on 3/11/2009
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