Your architect is correct. Those houses that appear too close to front boundary were reno without the proper approvals, ie.. no professionals are signing off on them. If there is complaint, especially by neighbour.. need to regularise by proper submission, fines, and possibly removal if is fire satety issue. From what I know.. BCA dun go ard proactively checking if reno works are compliant. Afterall, is private property and no one had complained. Therefore.. do but dun get caught.