Sinn Féin Councillor and Deputy Mayor Danny Lavery today hit out at cowboy builders across Belfast that have taken advantage of home owners lack of knowledge of planning law.
“I am dealing with dozens of cases of people that have extended their homes by installing domer windows without planning permission,” said the Sinn Féin Councillor.
“Many constituents have been told by builders that planning permission is not required which is totally wrong.
“Vulnerable people are being taken advantage of by these cowboy builders and deliberately mislead,” said the North Belfast Councillor.
“Belfast City Council Planning Enforcement Department are warning against such practices and we support them on grounds of health and safety.
“However we are calling for them to treat these families with sympathy as many of them have been forced into this situation through overcrowding and the massive waiting lists especially in North Belfast,” added the Councillor.
“It's the small number of these cowboy builders that the Council should be tackling first as they are exploiting often the poorest of people in communities across the city.
“In my view as long as those extensions that have been completed pose no danger then the Council should treat these cases with lenience. However people should be cautious in future as the liability does lie with the home owner.”
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