What changes can an owner make to the flat after moving in?
This is a common question that owners of flat have in mind but remains unanswered.
We will try to touch upon this query today.
The external changes to a flat have a close correlation to the approved plan.
Any external changes may impact covered area calculations along with the structural and fire safety requirements.
The owners of a flat can cover their balconies with canopies that are supported by cantilever.
However, there are limits to the dimensions of this canopy.
In Noida for instance, canopy can not be more than 4.5 * 2.4 meter in dimensions.
The covering by canopy under these dimensions does not add to covered area for you and the builder.
The owners can also cover the balcony by grills provided it can be opened (or lockable) from one side (for fire exit if required).
However, the same needs to be vetted by the builder.
Many builders tend not to allow this to preserve their external look.
The same is however done more often when a RWA takes over maintenance.
No permanent structure of any nature other than the above can be constructed over projections (chajja) or balcony.
Any other external extensions have to be vetted by the authority from safety perspective of NBC and are chargeable as per the increment in covered area.
Coming to the inside of the flat, any modification unless disturbing the load bearing walls is permissible.
However, it is important that owner puts across the changes with the builder otherwise builder tends to relenquish upon the 2 years warranty of construction and structural defects on pretext of the changes.
Changes inside the flat related to plumbing, drainage and electricity should be taken up with caution and vetted by the builder.
The owner would be held responsible for any damage caused to neighboring flats or flats beneath due to those changes.
Comments/Feedback invited.
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Last Updated on May 26, 2015 by Go4Reviews
Hi ,
I’m from Kolkata. Just wanted to know few things:
1) if balcony Railing charge or modifications possible or not .?
2) is it okay to cover up balcony with the aluminium sliding window profiles?
Hi, there are multiple parties from whom you need to take approval – Development authority and RWA
From fire fighting perspective, the fire fighting ladder should always have access to balconies.
Can I make a small walls inside the balcony which doesn’t effect the out side area of balcony n balcony railing looks same from the out side
Anything that changes the FAR is not allowed.
Can we cover the extended balcony of first floor with Tin shed in greater Noida authority
Hi, Nice atricle.
I want to confirm. Can I applied the tiles on my balconies wall (Inside wall, not outside wall of the falt/building)?
Hi Jitender, yes you can, provided it is not visible from outside. Generally, maintenance agency will not allow any change thats visible from outside and is inconsistent with the look and feel of facade.
I have purchased a new flat having 3 Balconies
I want to cover Utility balcony with Aluminium covering and Windows lockable from inside, and remove the wall in between hall and mentioned balcony, so balcony will become a part of hall.
I want to do this change as it also enhance the kitchen entry which look wider after removal of the wall.
Is it allowable… Can somebody please suggest.
(The wall in between is definitely a no beam structure)
Please help us with the city name. Every development authority has their own rule. Generally any such change will be allowed provided it does not do damage to the structure. In that case, you have to seek permission from the builder/RWA beforehand.
Taking this a step further, canopy on balcony is a construction on balcony touching the outside of the flat boundary. However in my case this is a construction from bedroom to the balcony
I think the essence is Temporary structures are allowed, permanent are not 🙂
A very informative article. I have one question and would appreciate if you could help me out on this.
I plan to break one wall of my bedroom to put in one wooden almirah. This wall opens into my balcony. The external of this almirah ( i.e. the part which will be exposed in balcony) will be painted/laminated by me to look just like the external wall paint.
Is this allowed ? The wall in question is not going to be a load bearing wall.
Thanks Iceman. It will lead to increase in covered area as only half of of balcony is considered in covered area. Now, when a portion of it is converted to usable area, covered area will be increased too. You may not get permission to do so.
Suggest you wait for RWA to be formed and then approach authority for this change.
So is covered area increase the only problem over here? By this logic even covering balcony with canopy should be requiring authority approval?
No, it doesn’t. Canopy open at one end (with base as cantilever at start of wall) is permissible as its not a permanent structure. The changes you are otherwise suggesting would be permanent in nature.
Thanks once again. Isn’t covering the balcony by sliding glass also the same case as clarified by you in one of the user asked question ?
Good point Iceman. On papers, sliding glass covering is not considered as a specific exception like canopy. So, authority may object to covering balcony by sliding glass as well but there is no precedence to suggest that. Owners need to ensure that whatever they do is easily dismantable if authority objects in future. However, I know that with RWA formed, without an extra penny, approval for this (sliding class covering) change has been provided by NA in past.
What about change of floor tiles, is that allowed
Thanks for writing to us. Yes, that’s absolutely permissible. Ensure you check for leakage after tiles are fixed so that owner staying below your flat does not face seepage issues.
Hi ,
Nice Article ,what about covering balcony with Sliding glass and Jali door ,which are move able and can open any side,with out extending or projecting outside the balcony area.
Thanks,
Amit
Hi Amit, that’s completely acceptable and is very often being done by lower floor owners.
Had been regularly reading ur articles / posts, they are highly informative & useful :
1. What are the changes permitted inside the flat.
2. To what extent civil work can be altered inside the flat viz changing position of walls, doors, windows , changes in position of WC, Washbasin , sink etc in the bath room/ kitchen.
3. Changes in position of electrical sockets, switches etc.
Thanks for writing to us. Thats a very important aspect we missed out on. Shall update the article. thanks.
What about iron angles in balcony railing to dry clothes after washing ?
You mean the one projecting outside? If yes, as per authority that’s permissible unless it doesn’t lead to ground coverage increase and doesn’t override the fire safety concerns. But some builders tend to disallow. The same needs to be resolved amicably.