Tenants spotted bathing in front of the house last month.
A group of residents in SS2, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, are unhappy about the disruptive behaviour of several people renting a double-storey link house in their neighbourhood.
According to them, loud noises are often heard coming from the premises.
“The problem began when about 18 foreign workers moved into the house at the end of April,” said a resident who only wanted to be known as KH.
“They often bathe in the front yard (with bottom-half clothed) and the bath water would flow onto the road outside.
“Although this activity has ceased after complaints, their behaviour has made residents uncomfortable,” said KH.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were disturbed by foreign workers chattering outside the house, sometimes until past midnight.
“On May 14, one of the tenants was seen pointing his cellphone towards a neighbour’s house as though filming or taking pictures of it,” said the resident.
Concerned for the family’s safety, a report was lodged with Sea Park police on May 23.
In just two months, residents had lodged 25 complaints with Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Housing and Local Government Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.
The matter was also highlighted to the area’s MBPJ councillor Loh Y. Lun and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei.
When residents followed up with MBPJ, they were told that the city council’s Building Control and Environment and Health departments did not find non-compliance issues such as house partitioning or health violations.
When contacted, Loh said the police had spoken to the agent managing the house to reduce its occupancy from 22 to 10 people.
“I was also informed that the police will patrol the area more frequently.
“The occupants were bathing outside as there was an issue with one of the bathrooms as well as low water pressure, but the problem has been rectified.
“MBPJ Health Department also inspected the premises and found that there was no overcrowding nor illegal renovations done to the house,” he added.
Lim said currently, MBPJ did not have an application category for owners to convert residential units to hostels.
“In cases of complaints, MBPJ can investigate on grounds of change in usage, illegal renovations or overcrowding under building by-laws,” she said.
Residents also pointed out to StarMetro a water tank on the roof of the house that had been left exposed, which could become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.
This matter had been highlighted to MBPJ, they said, but there had been no updates on the outcome of any investigation.
A resident, who only gave his name as Chan, said the house was being used as a hostel for foreign workers.
While there is no apparent breach in by-law, he questioned whether MBPJ condoned the use of a residence as a hostel.
MBPJ has not responded to questions on this issue at press time.
