Subsidized House Renovations: Important Requirements to Know

A subsidized house is an affordable residence provided for low-income communities with government funding. This funding support raises a common question: is it allowed to renovate a subsidized house?

The government allows the renovation of subsidized houses with some rules and conditions to pay attention to. These rules and conditions aim to maintain the quality and uniformity of subsidized houses as well as to protect the rights of homeowners and developers.

This article will discuss the renovation of minimalistic subsidized houses, from the requirements to tips for a successful renovation. Let’s check this out!

Requirements for Subsidized House Renovations

There are several requirements to avoid common mistakes in renovating subsidized houses. Here are the requirements you need to know:

1. Mortgage Must Be Active for More Than 5 Years

Renovating a subsidized house, such as changing the facade or adding a second floor, can only be done after the mortgage has been running for 5 years. The reason lies in the main purpose of subsidized housing which aims to help low-income communities own decent housing. That said, it’s important to ensure they have the financial ability to bear the costs of major renovations.

2. Only Minor Renovations Allowed

Unlike regular houses, renovations on subsidized houses are only allowed on a small scale, meaning you are not allowed to make major alterations that change the structure of the building.

Small renovations refer to minor repairs to parts of the house which include fixing roof leaks, repainting walls, or installing new floor tiles.

These regulations are made to maintain the uniformity and aesthetics of subsidized housing. Additionally, small renovations are safer and wouldn’t damage the structure of the building.

3. Smooth Mortgage Payments Regularly

Before planning to renovate a subsidized house, you need to ensure that the payments are running smoothly. It’s worth noting that the bank and the developer prohibit renovations if mortgage payments are delayed. Late payments will result in penalties from the bank and a renovation ban from the developer.

4. Property Cannot Be Changed for Commercial Use

The strict rules for renovating subsidized houses ensure that the program is on target and not misused by irresponsible parties. According to the regulations, subsidized houses may only be used as residences. This means that the house cannot be used for commercial property or other business needs.

5. Prohibited from Changing the Facade

The government has regulated the specifications of the facade for subsidized houses. Therefore, changing the facade area is prohibited which includes altering the structure and shape of the building.

While changing is prohibited, you can still design the facade and make it more appealing. Additionally, you can still repaint the house, add a fence, or even beautify it with flower pots, as long as it does not change the predetermined structure and shape of the facade.

Tips for Renovating a Subsidized House

After knowing the requirements that must be met before renovating a subsidized house, here are some tips for renovating as a reference for you:

1. Repainting

If you own a subsidized type 36 house, you can change the paint color of the front side as you wish. Repainting isn’t a major renovation as the paint color doesn’t alter the structure or shape of the house facade.

Repainting is also understandable as most subsidized houses have standard paint colors, such as white, blue, or yellow. So, if you find these colors less attractive, you are free to change them to a color you prefer.

Additionally, you can also get creative by combining the base paint color with another to create an accent and avoid a monotonous impression. For example, a combination of white and blue can create a calming visual effect while making the house facade look more elegant.

2. Installing a Canopy

Installing a canopy helps protect the house from hot weather and rain. It is ideally installed in the carport area to provide shade for your vehicle.

Like fences, canopies have various appealing models and designs that can enhance the aesthetics of your subsidized house. Therefore, choose a canopy model that suits your style and preference to create a more elegant house design.

3. Adding Decorations

You can also add decorative elements to the front side of your subsidized house. Simple furniture like a small table and chairs on the house terrace can enhance the overall design.

Additionally, you can build a natural stone wall to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your house. There are various types of natural stones to decorate your house, such as granite, limestone, sandstone, gravel, and slate.

4. Adding a Fence

Most subsidized houses do not have a fence. Therefore, adding a fence is another renovation you can do for your subsidized house as it doesn’t go against the requirements and it wouldn’t change the house facade.

5. Creating a Mini Garden

If you wish to have something greenery in your house, a mini garden would be an excellent option. In many cases, a subsidized house has an empty area in front of the building that can be used as a mini garden.

However, if there’s limited space, you can plant the flowers on the hanging pot or put them on tiered shelves.

This is the information about the renovation of subsidized houses that you should pay attention to. Keep in mind that you must follow all the requirements before doing any house renovation.

Meanwhile, if you want to renovate a subsidized house, such as making a mini garden, make sure to use high-quality cement products, such as Premium Portland Cement from Semen Merah Putih.

The product received the Home Preferred Brand award in the Best Portland Cement category by Media Bintang Group Indonesia readers for two consecutive years in 2015-2016. So, you don’t need to worry about the quality of the product.

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