Planning to renovate a 30 year old double storey terrace house in Penang.

Thinking of extending the back portion of the house up to the backlane-ground floor and the upstairs. About 350ft per floor.

Would I need to get an architect to draw up and submit the plans for MPPP's approval?
MPPP does not have standard renovation plans for sale.
Would also appreciate an estimated cost for obtaining the building plan approvals and contacts of people who can do that for us.

You will need an architect approved plan to submit to MPPP.
I hired a draughtsman to draw for me, get signedoff from ah architect, and submit to MPPP.
Price was RM2700 for a 20x5 extension. Not sure if the price correlates with the extension size.
If you are interested, I can PM you his contact.

yes, would appreciate his contact. thanks.

you may direct look for the architect inside the MPPP,
they will draw and submit it ..
our way is, we pay for the man who work inside the department,
we nego with the man who control and checking on the existing Taman-taman,
we did't take back the deposit,
as the project is small, mostly they will not hv time to checking on you, unless there is big project.
if you wan everything is go throught legal, sometime they are fast - week or 1 month time,
sometime slow, take 2 month, that mean your renovation only can start after you get the permit.

thank you chooyang. appreciate your reply.
how about a brand new house reno? if I would like to build a concrete enclosure for the gas tank at the back of the house, over the drain, would I need approval? am also thinking of extending the upstairs back rooms out to the balcony. directly below the balcony is the downstairs kitchen

where is your house ?
any renovation also need permit (if you scare will kena saman),
some ppl just direct renovate and maybe "under" for the person who in charge
mostly if small project, then your neighbour no complaint it, then problem will not come,
if big project, then mostly when MPPP man is drive through, they will come out from the car and check it.
we will not wait until they approve, we will start work once submit.
the place i live 10 out of 9 house will extend back kitchen, but no one have permit ..

additional advantage of getting permit, if you sale next time, all the reno has permit will up the house value.

are you sure about that? Did you hear that from your real estate agent?

this house is in Balik Pulau. I called Balik Pulau MPPP and that's what they said too-need permit. but my contractor tells me no need. it is a new project so most of my neighbours have not moved in yet.

Even if new project and no neighbour to complain, If the authorities wants to kacau, they can. If it is stated that permit is required, then it is required. You may be able to get away with the permit if you are lucky... but, then...

If it's a new project, then you definately need approval because they'll occasionally monitor the area. You'll get caught.

Those enforcement guys that goes around new housing area are on the look out for some side income. So, those that do not have the reno permit will be their "customers"

each area has assign a enforcement guy,
so we mostly deal with the guy who check on that area ..
then problem will done .
but if big project, as i say, better get permit ...
coz it more attract as compare to small project.
everybody drive through will have a look .. .
so maybe problem will occur ..

if we do reno without approval will there be any problems during selling?

depend on the extend of the renovation work done. If the structure is illegal, then can be a problem. If it is within the local authorities guideline, then should not be a problem

someone told me that the enforcement guys come during the reno. Once completed, they won't come kacau anymore. is it true?

Normally won't. Unless you reno is something illegal/ someone complained. That's what triggers the "interest"

I want to know this too...thinking of building a concrete enclosure for the gas tank at the back of my house as well. Do one need to go apply permit from local majlis perbandaraan?

If just to built a enclosure for the gas tank, no need permit la...

small small reno mostly ppl wont go for permit la ..
as you can see at the whole malaysia,
how many house reno really have permit ???
haha ..
as those really really big reno only go for permit ..