Room For One

FOR CLOSE TO four decades, Tan Ching Kee, a partner in an auditing firm, and his family have called a four-storey shophouse near Little India home.

The first floor was always rented out to a commercial tenant, the second was leased out as a single floor apartment, while Mr Tan, his parents and three sisters lived on the third and fourth storeys.

''It wasn't a deliberate decision to live here for so long. But at the same time, we also found it difficult to leave,'' says Mr Tan. ''There's plenty of good food around, Mustafa Centre is just around the corner and we are near the city. We are also hesitant to move out since my retired parents are familiar with this location.''

Over the years, Mr Tan's sisters moved out, leaving just him and his parents. He had plans to make improvements to the home, one of which was to install a lift. But that didn't happen, as his parents didn't…