Action sought against apartment building owners

The group showed up at the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups and submitted a petition calling for strict inspection of buildings, which the owners are seeking to change the name of, especially if they are located near schools or universities. The office regulates the service of apartment buildings across the country. 

 

Suthep Sodchuen, chief of the Friends of Youth for Development, said owners of dormitories or buildings where students lived had a tendency to change the names of the premises so pubs and nightclubs can operate in the vicinity legally. Many buildings have pubs or pool halls operating on the ground floor, which allow youngsters in. 

 

Pinchai Pinkaew, the office director, said there were around 60,000 apartment buildings in service but only 18,000 of them had registered so far. There are 284 apartment buildings near 11 educational institutions, but only 148 had registered.