Exposing the invisible land grab by Hong Kong’s rich

[@valfssantiago]

"If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower class"

[@toonarmiesradiation]

Well said. That's why they added jail term. But again that could be evaded by the rich with enormous donations.

[@ross.neuberth]

One of my fav saying. Too true.

[@Liiiiiiiiio]

Can’t agree anymore

[@Wulfstan1938]

Asmongold

[@pimmpslap]

Rather, "It's legal, for a price."

[@mihanedog]

Almost 10 million for a house that looks like it was built by a retired fisherman from Jamaica?

[@babihutan5949]

its cuz hong kong is expensive for land in singapore multi million dollar houses also look smth like that cuz land is scarce

[@ronnyt101]

In California a 2b2b 1500SF is a cool 1 million dollas

[@Telopead]

The house worth nothing compared to the land it sits on. Real estate is all about location and nothing else.

[@benjicool2808]

location, location, location

[@rapterling]

Nah your giving them to much 2 bed half bath ​@@ronnyt101

[@anotheran]

If penalty was based on encroached property value fined daily and being able to freeze bank accounts immediately, they’ll fall in line.

[@davidanalyst671]

rich people building big houses is hardly hong kong's biggest problem right now

[@SnootchieBootchies]

@@davidanalyst671 I would disagree. This land grab is just another form of tax avoidance by the wealthy which has exacerbated wealth inequality. I would argue this massive and growing wealth gap is the biggest issue facing the entire world as it leads to the breakdown of social order, which we can see many examples on all continents today.

[@irone7050]

@@davidanalyst671 what is then? free speech?😂

[@milkoowen6800]

​@@davidanalyst671does the government can only do one thing? u r so dumb

[@tomseppe6406]

@@davidanalyst671Hong kong has the highest real estate prices in earth. This is quite literally their biggest problem

[@twochinsmma]

Those are the worst looking multi million dollar homes I've ever seen

[@szn7548]

Its china what can you expect

[@hjm2062]

Coz HK's dense population means these old town houses are considered ''big'' mansions since the lower class all live in tiny apartments

[@hjm2062]

@@szn7548 Tf does China has to do with how houses in Hong Kong looks, do some research before you start yapping about ''iTs cHiNa''

[@ShangZilla]

But you have seen them.

[@jestfuldemigod]

Its the value of the land not the building itself. Land is rare in HK.

[@ymhktravel]

Hong Kong is a rich man's playground where the HK govt is weak to do anything to them. That's why ordinary people there have problems getting a decent public flat that's not just fit for pigeon.

[@rhetorical1488]

id bet alot of those properties are government employees

[@wyz9815]

Same happening in mainland, those riches tries their best to grab and steal from the people, and this is why Chinese people support the government to discipline the big Capticals, while western media demonize CPC on this, for in Angelo Saxon countries, the Big Money are untouchable, they can control the government and change the laws to make their lootering behaviour legal, but they are not that "free" in China!

[@doomer704]

​@@rhetorical1488 it's impossible for government staff have that kind of money, unless it came from corruption but having this kind of house would instantly trigger suspicion, so no.

[@rhetorical1488]

@@doomer704 its the house of the mistress where they hide the cash

[@4evertrue830]

I agree with @ymhktravel. This is how to tell that H.kong is really not democratic at all if corrupt rich wealthy people can encroach on govt land and use it for themselves, while poor H.kong people live in tiny matchbox homes every day of their lives. They might as well migrate to Taiwan or mainland China to get better housing for them and families.

[@ahantu]

Land grab by the rich/wealthy AND big corporations is a silent problem (in around the world, not just in HK) that needs to talk about more often and inform the public (e.g., publish their names to expose them). Lawmakers in all countries should craft policies and revise the law to tackle this issue.

[@wansworld27]

unfortunately those in power are in cahoots with the wealthy or maybe they themselves are the perpetuators so why would they penalize themselves..

[@MarcUK]

I think in the UK, land grabbing is mostly legal if done right. That is, if you're not discovered, then years later you can make a claim that you've been using it and legally make it yours. However, if before it's yours, you sell your property and include land that isn't yours. Then that's very illegal. :D

[@pjacobsen1000]

Being wealthy is not enough for these people, they also insist on committing crimes and stealing from the public.

[@trydodis690]

They're not really stealing from the public though, all land in Hong Kong is owned by the PRC and managed by the HK government. It's leased to businesses and land owners, when they violate their lease terms what's happening is the government is not getting their money stolen they're just losing out on money they could be making which is their opportunity cost.

[@CoolHand273]

sounds about right

[@CoolHand273]

sounds about right

[@cuteandfunnyearthlings2863]

The same people who supported and funded hk protest 2019, fled hk or in hk prison now.

[@rhetorical1488]

the saying in madnarin translates roughly as thus: if you can cheat, cheat. it is a way of life there

[@louismolina17]

great investigative journalism ! thanks for this, scmp.

[@xxyanlixx]

5:00 awwww that dog approached the drone in full curiosity mode

[@curtdragon]

lol came here to say guard dog reporting for duty lol

[@dglolz7227]

Government has to do something about this, can't let this slide, the audacity and sense of entitlement from these people just outrageous.

[@chatter4427]

@@Joe-sg9llchina used to give out free houses

[@NightPhoenix.Y]

​@@chatter4427yeah but the rich in Hong Kong hold 50% of the voting power, so it's pretty easy for them to do as they please.

[@stcemel]

It’s difficult because they would definitely band together to put pressure on govt to look the other way.

[@peter_de_Jong817]

​@Joe-sg9ll That doesn't sound as smart as you think. It's clear that you dont even know socialism. Just read the Communist Manifesto for once, is like under 30 pages.

[@eigelgregossweisse9563]

When they said the ownership of private property, the catch is in capitalism, it didn't say how much you can own. If it did, it spewed whatever it said...because the inevitability is people will use that to take whatever they feel like taking. That's how capitalism works. Communism though? Capitalism with a few people practicing it and the rest under technocratic feudalism. Or feudalism in particular, but extremely one sided. Fact is, we can and could practice communism successfully, and we have. In Kibbutz communities, Amish settlers, etc... small off grid communities to almost medium. But when you talk about socialism, the thing is people forget- it is to the community. When they involve any government, any state at all, it ceases to be communism or socialism. It has characteristics, not the system itself. People will argue using the old ancient, useless propped up cold war mentality, but the fact is it's simply just capitalism, in whatever system that China, Russia, or US and the Western Blocs have. Even what Mao and the past had done, that was based on poorly instituted communist practices they malevolently butchered. It's always been the rich, whether and whatever humans in power or those who agree with them or otherwise, that has been how it worked, not always. You might complain about China, but your own nations are far more deceitful and ruthless, more so than China. At least we have it all out to see for what the government does in China, whereas the West is completely an insidious entity that preys on humanity's hopes.

[@maicholor2849]

The more money you have the more you want, it’s never enough, and greed always backfires at some point!

[@jerrycabarloc3728]

More money more problems.

[@YorgosL1]

More money is the better of course

[@dualidea]

Capitalism is great huh?

[@icodestuff6241]

They made the money because they wanted it in the first place though, so greed is also what got them there

[@B1g5t1nk]

@@dualidea It is. If you know to how handle it.

[@ApplePotato]

I don't think the government let the issue slide purposely. The problem is most of these wealthy owners and corporations can afford to fight the government in court. Even though it is a fairness and safety concern, violations in urban areas are more like to cause greater harm. Laws needs to be passed ASAP regarding the illegal use of government land. Owners should not be able to fight it in court with whatever excuse they have.

[@londonspade5896]

In the UK, if a building is built against regulations the owner is forced to demolish the extension / building - if they refuse, the government will do it and send them the bill!

[@dhpa2601]

That’s where the 4 year rule applies where if an unauthorised extension has been in place for 4 years retrospectively. They are granted homeowners immunity.

[@MeiinUK]

No... That is not how it works. If a building is not getting planning permission. I.e. your neighbour can dispute you from building there as well. Cos you live in a council area. This is democracy. The regulation piece is by a third party surveyor.. why do they do that ? It is because the house is marked against the central bank. So therefore the land value is against that too. If your currency is not soveign. I.e. belongs to a King or Queen or an Emperor. Who bloomin cares ?!....

[@redmusichouse]

The rudeness of the office woman is very telling. She’s definitely hiding something.

[@stephenlim2852]

She is only an employee and takes instructions from her bosses. Such reactions are very common when reporters do investigations. I watched them on TV almost every week.

[@DominicTanTV]

Pretty fair reaction in her position. Why do the reporters expect a simple corporate representative to know about some works done on what clearly seems like the boss's residential property? They don't, they just want to record a rude response so they can project negativity in their news, and in turn twist the perspective of innocent public like yourself to dislike the owners. Is the issue bad? Yes. Are the owners questionable? Yes. Can the government do better? Yes. Does the employee have anything to do with any of this? NO. Put yourself in her shoes. Anything you say might be used against you. A direct rejection to respond is the obvious course of action.

[@B1g5t1nk]

@@DominicTanTV LET EM KNOW DOMINIC

[@zarcadioszfraous2192]

Same thing happen in Malaysia, Sabah.

[@leesboo1]

Why no hurry to enforce the rules? Because many HK senior civil servants and politicians are themselves living in properties with illegal extensions.

[@ruslankolotogin]

Any proofs on that?

[@jsc3417]

​@@ruslankolotogin the inaction speaks for itself.

[@KHMCHNH]

And they would also accuse “communism” if government put a stop to it

[@blank1778]

@@KHMCHNHcommunism with capitalistic similarities

[@Someonesomewhere1986]

And they say not enough land to accommodate the poor who have to live in cage homes or shoe box homes, the world was never fair and never will be…

[@bp83330]

Well lots of naive people believe what they want to believe…

[@xxyanlixx]

This raises a question that if SCMP discovers a crime committed by a resident, are they obliged to file a complaint to the Police Department or simply write an article on their papers? Because once authorities get involved, the offenders then must face legal actions.

[@stephenjoe653]

The SCMP will face legal actions at last.

[@eddiensw]

These properties owners do it because...THEY CAN and know the government is not doing anything. those penalty HKD 200K..is a weekend meal for these rich people. Nevertheless thanks SCMP for reporting this. We need continuous pressure on the government

[@ceciLOVEtaco]

Normal mentality for Chinese culture . It exists everywhere . Poor ppl push out their balcony , riches push out their garden . All the same.

[@ruidean72]

You should let their insurance companies know about these properties to the insurance companies if these building are in more danger of collapsing. Unless Insurance companies are already increasing normal people's home insurance premiums to subsidise or offset any catastrophe's happening to these rich residents' homes.

[@kedarbarve5884]

South China Morning Post, Great Report on illegal land grab by Rich HongKong residents. A few suggestions: (1) Show this video to Mainland Chinese authorities & officials. (2) Even if some officials are corrupt, some upstanding politician & officials will purse this case for their own career. (3) Those residents should be fined & forced to cough up the amount. They all live in more than 3 million $ villas , castles & manors yet can't pay decent fines ?? Any restoration should be given by these owners . (4) If owners give in writing that they won't pay the amount due to bankruptcy or other reasons, part of their legal property should be taken by the government as fine . Utilise that seized property as hospital , school , college , officials residence, refuge housing for the very poor of the society. Eg Poor people won't complain if those bunkers are used as homes for them .

[@ghormax]

I am afraid that those rich own the government and without public support, the government can't afford to offend the rich

[@Ctm168]

Hong kong has high af land prices and government claims to have low avaliable land to build housing but realisticly hongkong only used around 20 % of the actually land

[@earthtothe9791]

The super rich opposed for more lands use as it will devalued their real estate empire. The suggestion was up many time.

[@matts8202]

This is basically the Hong Kong version of the film Parasite. It's just a real documentary instead of a dark humor. Exposing the rich instead of the poor because of the rainstorm. Surreal!

[@LoC28C]

Wow their fine is so minimal only HKD 20,000 per day for delay in removal. It should be HKD 3,000,000 per day or more if they failed to remove these illegal structures.

[@munster1404]

Laws are designed with some loopholes to encourage investments in the hope that those investments would have an ROI that outweighs the cons. But if mismanaged and in certain cases, intentional oversight, these loopholes become gaping crevices of inequality and environmental damage.

[@Sjfjtsb273]

Guess what? Nothing will happen because they’re either too corrupt or too spineless to do anything about it. rules for thee but not for me

[@1pasupaty]

Jyzt imagine he can buy 10million usd house do his wealth exceeds every bit of that extra land occupied.hed buy it off

[@KHMCHNH]

And because these wealthy people will accuse CCP/communism of oppressing them if they are forced to stop

[@michaelngfinance]

I wonder how many government officials live in those buildings.

[@Hkchinese888]

Regina Ip Lau lives in a villa located in Tai Mo Shan

[@Hkchinese888]

Meanwhile, I live in a cubicle room measures 2m x 2m. 😂😂

[@misterbig9025]

So sad

[@isleephungry]

I live in Mumbai slum sharing a toilet with a lot of people😢

[@Hkchinese888]

@@isleephungry Sharing toilet is no big deal, we share our wives in the tiny cubicle room.

[@wynn3077]

@@Hkchinese888😂

[@mmalam8148]

​@@Hkchinese888loser pindia

[@misterbig9025]

In my country this happens all the time. Those from higher caste are untouchables.

[@cuteandfunnyearthlings2863]

india eh

[@pan2aja]

India ?

[@GauravDhandhukia]

Pakistan 😂

[@manishgrg639]

and they even grab government-owned lands by promising to build public facitlites over there

[@mmalam8148]

India 🇮🇳 pindu pindia

[@orangerightgold7512]

oh wow, those trees surrounding those illegal structures sure do look flammable. I wonder what Oda nobunaga would have done.

[@rhetorical1488]

considering hed be stuck on the island and not on the mainland ....send angry diplomats?

[@pinklady7184]

They are not very smart. They forget that trees too close can cause damages to the foundations of their houses. Their trunks grow. They even put aesthetics before safety.

[@sevenhenson3926]

Y no site inspections by authorities upon completion of the building projects?

[@td3053]

9 million dollars for that trash???

[@kamma44]

10 million USD for those skid row looking houses?!

[@lyall3000]

Great investigative journalism, congratulations.

[@returo7297]

wheres the invisible palestine landgrab by israel?

[@ThijmenCodes]

These houses look more like factories… abysmal. No character at all.

[@StylishCasuall]

Impossible for something like this to happen without the government at least being OK with it. Corruption seems more likely

[@AuditClerk]

No corruption ... just turning a blind eye as it's expensive to prosecute.

[@FreQ135]

This kind of corruption is growing as wealth inequality increases around the world. The only way to stop it is to put pressure on governments with unbiased reporting such as this. Great reporting, thanks for the insightful content.

[@JJ-fr2ki]

Rich Hong Kong residents have rich rivals equally connected with the new “one country one system” government. The best means for enforcement would be to alert rival elites to report.

[@wyz9815]

In China mainland, no Big Money can control the government and change the laws to make their lootering behaviour legal. The problem is one country two system, those rich take the advantage to keep doing the same thing that they have been doing - exploiting people of whole Hong Kong. It should be one country one system, so they will be disciplined by a government they can't run over.

[@toonarmiesradiation]

@@wyz9815 The previous HK government was too inefficient and corrupted. Otherwise all these things wouldn't have happened.

[@chronometer9931]

​@@wyz9815In mainland China the Big Money IS the government lol

[@JoshuaArnold-w6l]

I don't understand the issue... people covering this as news just seem petty.

[@MinMin-mm1hd]

Isn't it ironic that the very people who hold positions in the government are the ones occupying government land? Are they the ones making laws to remove themselves from power?

[@maheshshinde1596]

Excellent journalism

[@willchu]

Decades of a weak HK government.

[@davidanalyst671]

who cares if rich people build their houses 15 feet over their permits? Who cares if China takes over your country? So does this video really portray what is important to the people of HK?

[@janhas2553]

These houses doesnt even look nice….

[@OilBaron100]

Why did she walk up an escalator that was moving down at 8:35 ?

[@thinkpadx60]

Why aren’t the construction companies and architects being held liable

[@Liiiiiiiiio]

They are expanding their luxury mansions, but subdivided houses are everywhere. This is unfair.

[@locked01]

It's incredible how rich Chinese, even spending as much as 50 millions on a property, are still all cramped up in a tiny space...

[@krisb-travel]

1:18 curious if anyone knows did these homes survive and were able to rebuild or they were determined to be too unsafe now? How do you even fix something like that.

[@alenimbang2356]

Corruption is everywhere

[@mtljin]

HK government needs CPC to come in and fix their city.

[@priortokaraew7569]

for 10m usd, all those houses look like they are really small with tiny rooms. no thanks.

[@bubbalo3388]

Some are so rich that if they get caught and made to pay for restoration of the land it's just chump change. Others have connections and get around it either as favors or bribes. Happens in U.S. also but not on a scale like this because corruption is more common in HK/China.

[@pinolillo1666]

Corruption is everywhere some places more masqueraded than others

[@MaximusDecimusMeridius23]

10 million they look like run down apartments in brooklyn

[@thekid5835]

Is it legal to use drones on people's property?

[@fly2724]

I mean… if no one’s using the land…

[@walterkaiyuenpang3556]

🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦

[@mrmartin2079]

Proper investigative journalism

[@aqib725]

Those extensions arent that big , thats just a little bit land which is not used so they make a garden or a backyard.

[@franciscouderq1100]

Aaaaand, is this ok to you ? Wao

[@franciscouderq1100]

In Some EUropean countries the Gove.regularly uses drones to search for illegal house extensions, illegal swimming pools and even small garden shades and that might sound drastic but it s just fairness to all as everyone is required to apply and fet a permit for each such additional structures. It is also linked to amount of taxes to be pay yearly to the Gov and local authorities.

[@Ocho-y6j]

everybody gangster till CCP show up

[@Yellow-lx8dj]

Obvious Not showing

[@Ocho-y6j]

@@Yellow-lx8dj come on baby, don't cry

[@Yellow-lx8dj]

@@Ocho-y6j 🥲

[@Yellow-lx8dj]

@@Ocho-y6j obvious Not showing

[@agps4418]

here i live in a somewhat rural town... where there are government housings.. EVERY single family in such housings extend their property to whatever direction available as much as they can afford it... rules aside, this highlights the need of space as a necessity and property

[@Mexican00b]

so... like in all countries in the world?

[@waynenathan2608]

look at the price of the property and the condition of it

[@realtissaye]

they look surprisingly run-down. also why are there no people or cars moving about? it seems like those neighbourhoods are deserted

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[@Bryanbilal8681]

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[@cohenocchino6339]

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[@Bryanbilal8681]

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[@gretchenjessy5782]

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[@AndreasLudwig5811]

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[@KennyHamilton-kf4vb]

"man i hope im rich one day so I can live in the worst looking 10 million dollar house anyone has ever seen"

[@matthewoppp6881]

Of course its illegal but the guy saying its a castle/plaza because they added a back yard thats smaller than 90% of the worlds houses is silly.

[@KingBamBam712]

It's way bigger in person

[@triciareylara]

what is and what will the government doing then?

[@MikuXP]

Nothing, the politicians and affluent friend probably own it 😂😂😂

[@joe59788]

5:06 any one else catch the spikes and barb wire? It looks too low for birds.

[@audioalt8]

Actual investigative journalism!

[@neilsonhans4763]

It is simply human selfishness, obviously all you need is one to break the law and the rest will simply follow and act ignorance when authorities starts to do crackdowns. Like most government, HK govt simply brush aside such rampant crimes to avoid offending the rich and goes after the average or poor instead.

[@mrboatshoe]

IT'S ONE THING TO SEND THEM A LETTER BUT WHY WOULD YOU GO TO THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE AND SNITCH ON THEM? THAT'S PRETTY FOUL 😂😂😂

[@elormcoffie1]

What's the big deal. The government won't or isn't using that small patch of land so if the citizens are using it what's wrong.

[@irone7050]

situation seems different for singapore with the SLA

[@kageyamareijikun]

I was going to say - try this in Singapore and feel the wrath of the government coming down on you. No one messes with the big G. Everything is so strict and monitored.

[@irone7050]

@@kageyamareijikun i worked in civil engineering consultant and encountered one case where owner illegally occupied a small SLA land plot for a staricase behind the house. in the end, they work things out and the owner just pay the cost to acquire it and redrew the boundary line.

[@ThePanacon]

Is it just me or do those luxury estates look like a Favela in Rio de Janeiro when recorded from a drone's view?

[@larry-notthecableguy]

Please update us and keep exposing how the rich take advantage of the society! Great job!

[@baptistejean4316]

that "big house" has some sneaky stuff going on under it, it has 3 huge vents way off to the side. Why they need 3 vents that big. And there is a propane tank right there too hidden with some grey material

[@rorschachgotnicemask9449]

exactly! It looks like a full-on unclear shelter, what's going on down there🧐

[@baptistejean4316]

@@rorschachgotnicemask9449 most the time needing that much airflow is for drugs

[@chronometer9931]

​@@baptistejean4316or large spaces...

[@jacknicky9785]

Likely the authorities won't touch these offenders who are rich, powerful and has the connections. That is the reality.

[@flourishwithMJ]

It's called Greed. Luxury homes barely occupied while real people live in tiny 'cage home' apartments. Heartbreaking.💔 Needs to change.

[@chronometer9931]

How is that the rich people's fault? Hold your government accountable!

[@gavinnorthants]

I used to see this in Milton Keynes UK, with people extending their gardens, into public land. Which should be for everyone to enjoy, not for the selfish few. All you can do is inform the local council, and home the council threaten legal action. If the fence is not put back to its original position.

[@lordsiomai]

the worst part is some people wait years just to get public housing

[@pbworld7858]

Why has this come to the surface now? Why did people not know about this until part of one house tumbled down like a cliff edge? Don't Google Maps provide satellite images of this area?

[@migueldenovi5873]

The problem is that the state owns 75% of the land in Hong Kong, making what's available idiotically expensive... Talking about "the rich land grab" is just a question of people whose resentment does not allow them to find the true cause of the problem they have.

[@samesamebutdifferent563]

Monetary fines are not effective to deter the rich. Increase the duration and chances of jail terms would help deter.

[@rhetorical1488]

shaming is still a thing in asia. loosing face is bad bad bad

[@Mr_Brown876]

happens everywhere. Problem is that they wont do anything about it

[@michaelpan1731]

didn't hong kong's own top government officials get busted for the same thing?

[@leochiu5936]

How intrusive could they be

[@juanlee337]

to think that 10 millinon dollar house look like that.. Imagine what the average citizen is living in... nightmare

[@BrianSmart-qh7js]

If its govt lands these lux owners are using without authorization, why is it that private people are the ones complaining? Seems private people are just jealous that these houses are extended. If the govt is not complaining, why private people who dont own them complain?

[@albertocarlo1234]

Finally, not only Italy is facing this issue.... Try with a building Amnesty

[@ryanreedgibson]

Why do they look like manufactured homes 'trailers'? Seriously, they look like they started out as a double-wide that was converted into homes.

[@AJY6396]

for someone so rich to steal such lands they can definitely afford is a low ball already. These kind of people are petty and arrogant.

[@adrianchin2970]

HK government should demolished all illegal renovation. This rich peoples think they are rich and can do whatever they want. Fines all this is rich people breaking the laws.

[@keangwooichoo6138]

78m hkd? Can buy a Palace in my country

[@louisli2571]

what's going on Red Hill peninsula complaint ????

[@Shion0Hibiki]

goverment should charge/sent them a bill for using the land.

[@michaelwang6125]

personally it would be better to just add a % of tax on the additional lands. e.g land A increased by 120% = owner pay 20% of the house's price + interest. getting rid of already developed land doesn't really benefit the locals, though this is something primarily to shift people's attention away from the stock market crisis+ Messi Game.

[@RayMak]

Look very very dangerous

[@aaronp5118]

This is where insurance companies can step in an deter homeowners from doing this. Your building plans don't match what on the government records, you have 1000+ sq feet not even on record. We won't pay for loss or insure your home. I guarantee you homeowners would think twice about building illegal add-ons again.

[@ChristianJiang]

The rich person seeing their own house in this vid 👁️👄👁️

[@strixnumbezzedz7837]

This is super common practice in HongKong with any homeowners, not just with the super rich. The housing market is so inflated there that any livable space they can add they will (most of the time illegally), and their property value rises as a result.

[@slewone4905]

los angeles have the same problem, and it's encouraged by the law. We had a private trail that use to be a train track. The long thin land is hard to develop, but it got worse, because neighboring property started to encrouch into this land. because of the law, if it's there for awhile, it can't be removed.