Illegal construction additions, such as the enclosure of balconies or expansions at the expense of shared spaces without proper permits, are common in many older neighbourhoods. Some of these alterations were made years ago, and the residents have even paid property taxes on them. “A resident who has become accustomed to living in a 100 square metre flat, which is recorded in the Land Registry as 70 square metres, will end up with a smaller flat – and may oppose the project.” The industry suggests taking such situations into account, but the planning authorities clarify: “We will not reach a situation where the wicked prosper.”
Partner Aharon Shimon, from the law firm Epstein Rosenblum Maoz (ERM), which specialises in urban renewal, explains that “building offences are a stumbling block in almost every urban regeneration project. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the root causes of these offences from a social perspective and expand the authorities’ view on this issue. Many building offences stem from economic constraints and severe housing shortages.”
For the full article in Hebrew: https://bit.ly/3MCxSAN