HDB should have access to flats for ceiling repairs: Khaw

By Yeo Sam Jo, The Straits Times, 23 Dec 2014

THE Housing Board should be empowered to enter a flat so that repairs on ceiling leaks can be performed more promptly, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.

About 2,800, or a third of ceiling-leak cases each year, take more than three months to resolve because of uncooperative neighbours, Mr Khaw wrote in a blog post.

Post by Ministry of National Development.

Some upper-floor residents refuse entry to the HDB to carry out repairs.

"This delays the repair unnecessarily and, meanwhile, the lower-floor residents suffer the inconveniences," Mr Khaw wrote.

"Minimally, HDB should be given the power to enter the flat for the purpose of carrying out the necessary investigations and repairs. We will need to amend the legislation to empower the HDB to do so."

Ceiling leakages make up about a quarter of the complaints that the HDB currently receives.

Both upper- and lower-floor flat owners are responsible for fixing leaky ceilings.

The HDB said it first tries to persuade upper-floor residents to cooperate and will involve grassroots leaders in the mediation if necessary.

"After repeated attempts, HDB will have no choice but to initiate legal action as a last resort, to compel the upper-floor owners to allow HDB access into their flats," it said.

The HDB took legal action against an average of 120 flat owners who refused to cooperate each year in the past four years.

Last year alone, 154 flat owners received a lawyer's letter, and in some cases, a court order.



Mr Khaw pointed out that the HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, which subsidises repair costs for residents, has benefited 140,000 households since its inception in 2001.

Under the scheme, the HDB bears half of the repair costs of leakages and spalling concrete, with the other half shared equally by upper- and lower-floor flat owners. On average, flat owners pay about $180 for each ceiling-leak repair.

The scheme does not cover the removal and replacement of fixtures and fittings.

Potong Pasir resident Louis Francis, who has had three leaks in his three-room flat since 2010, supported the move to facilitate repair works.

"Somebody has to repair it," said the 64-year-old retiree. "If not, it is not fair to the people living below."

But such repairs can get costly.

Housewife Cheng Caixia, 50, a Woodlands Drive 62 resident, forked out about $800 when her neighbours below had a ceiling leak about a year ago. Her toilet bowl, sink and floor tiles had to be changed, and her cabinet and glass shower door torn down.

"But I was okay with it. At the end of the day, we have to think about others," she said.

Ceiling leaks: HDB to plug its case for swift, concrete action
By Yeo Sam Jo, The Straits Times, 24 Dec 2014

WHEN sales consultant Sim Kwang Yong found a leak in the ceiling of his kitchen toilet in July 2012, he called the Housing Board to fix the problem.

Little did he think that it would take until December 2013 for it to be repaired - partly because his neighbours in the unit above were uncooperative.

"They kept pushing back the appointment, saying they were overseas or had relatives visiting so it was inconvenient," said the 47-year-old Bukit Batok resident.

Such frustrating problems are common, according to HDB residents, contractors and MPs.

They told The Straits Times that delays can cause leaks to worsen and start conflicts.

On Monday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan called for the HDB to be legally empowered to enter flats so that repairs can be done promptly.

About a third of ceiling leak cases each year take more than three months to resolve as some upper-floor neighbours refuse entry to the HDB to carry out repairs, he wrote in a blog post.

"Minimally, HDB should be given the power to enter the flat for the purpose of carrying out the necessary investigations and repairs."

MP for Nee Soon GRC Lee Bee Wah said she hears of at least one ceiling leak case a week, with upper-floor unit owners often reluctant to share the repair cost.

"Some leaks are so bad that people can't even sit on their toilet bowls because water keeps dripping on them," said Ms Lee, who is also chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development.

She said tempers can get frayed: "A few months ago, I had to mediate a case. The upper- floor residents denied that the water was from their unit. Both sides yelled at each other."

The leak was eventually repaired but the dispute delayed the process for months.

Each year, the HDB takes legal action against an average of 120 flat owners who refuse to cooperate in such cases.

Contractors said leaks can be caused by many factors, including poor workmanship, renovations and ageing of blocks.

"Some contractors may not have coated the waterproofing membrane enough times, or did not wait for it to dry," said Mr David Kek, director of Imposed Design.

Straits Construction executive director Kenneth Loo said some flat owners renovate their toilet floor but fail to waterproof it.

Singapore Contractors Association president Ho Nyok Yong noted: "Most of the time, it's due to wear and tear. The membrane normally has only a 10-year guarantee."

Such explanations do not exactly help Mr Sim, who noticed another leak in his kitchen ceiling in August.

He has forked out about $300 for repairs, but the leak is still there, and he is vexed at the HDB's response to his case.

"I'm always chasing them for appointments and updates," he said. "But they haven't found the root cause. It's just wasting my time and money."