00:00Minister in the Housing Ministry, Philip Edward Alexander, says some HDC property owners have been crossing the line.
00:07On Thursday, he visited the Greenville Housing Development, singling out one resident, Odinga Kwesi Richards, over what he described as
00:17repeated violations.
00:18The illegal structure that he's built up on the front of his house, and this, Mr. Richards, has taken it
00:29upon himself to claim all of the common area, the common parking area.
00:35He's turned it into a business. There are numerous complaints from persons living here. He's gotten cease and desist letters.
00:43He's burnt them.
00:45Alexander says Richards constructed illegal structures, occupied common parking areas, and operated what he claims is a business from the
00:54premises, despite receiving cease and desist letters in 2024 and again earlier this year.
01:01Richards, in a 2024 Facebook post, acknowledged receipts of two such letters, indicating it does not affect his plans for
01:09his property.
01:09So I got an HDC letter, again. I got one like this before. I think it's when Poop had an
01:16issue with me building my walls. It was sent to me.
01:19So I don't know if this was from Poop again. What I'm trying to say is that whoever responsible for
01:26this, this is not going to do me anything, period.
01:29A letter is not going to make me cease to do anything. I don't think that I'm a villain. I
01:33am the rebel.
01:34So all this is doing to me is giving me more material to burn paper. You know, I love to
01:40burn stuff.
01:42So because somebody can send out a video to HCA or whoever that don't know, it's not going to do
01:48me nothing.
01:49Bring me up in court, you'll be sadly something.
01:51He also wrote under the post that he knows the way his house looks bothers his neighbors.
01:57The minister, however, says the actions are in breach of the lease agreement signed with the Housing Development Corporation.
02:03The lessee shall not make any alterations in the demise premises without the approval in writing of the lessor of
02:10the plans and specifications thereof
02:12and shall make such alterations only in accordance with such plans and specifications thereof.
02:21The lessee shall, at the lessee's own expense, obtain all licenses, planning permissions and other things necessary for the lawful
02:29carrying out of such alterations.
02:30The lessee shall not do or permit to suffer to be done in or upon the demise premises anything which
02:37may or become a nuisance or annoyance or cause damage or inconvenience to the lesser or the owner or occupier
02:43of any other townhouse.
02:45According to Alexander, each unit is allocated parking for two vehicles and any expansion into common areas is unlawful.
02:52He's built up over his parking, that is now an above ground pool and other stuff and he put up
03:00his tent outside for what I believe are his cars.
03:08Neither the demise premises nor any part thereof shall be used for any illegal or immoral purpose nor shall any
03:15trade or business be carried on there.
03:18Richards is expected to be formally served notice that the HDC intends to remove the unauthorized structures and vehicles within
03:26days.
03:27We're coming to remove these vehicles, take down that tent, remove that container and take steps to remove that unlawful
03:35renovation.
03:35And the message has to be clear that nobody living in any HDC property, whether a buyer or a renter,
03:47is allowed to take over the common areas.
03:51The common areas are for the use of everybody, not for who thinks is the biggest badge on in the
03:58community.
03:59The minister stressed that no resident, whether buyer or renter, is allowed to take over common property, warning that enforcement
04:07action will follow where necessary.
04:10Alexander says the ministry and the HDC will continue inspections to ensure housing rules are enforced for the benefit of
04:18all residents.
04:19Our Vashita Wari, Rabnarain, TV6 News.
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