Repairs within HDB Flats

1. Ms Lee Bee Wah has expressed concern that ceiling leakage and water seepage are widespread problems in HDB flats. I want to assure the House that HDB takes the building quality of its flats seriously. In 2007, less than 3% of our flats were reported to have ceiling leaks, water seepage or spalling concrete. Most of these defects involved the older flats.

2. To help affected lessees, HDB will arrange to repair, without charge, defects that are due to poor design or workmanship. It is the lessee’s responsibility for rectification works due to normal wear and tear. Especially in older flats that are more than 20-year old, lessees have to do their part in rectifying the defects. We have the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) programme to co-pay for rectification works on ceiling leakage and consequential spalling concrete.

3. In addition, HDB is continually working to deliver better quality flats to its residents. Since 2005, HDB has offered an extended warranty scheme for new flats called “ASSURE 3”. It provides a five-year warranty against ceiling leakage and water seepage, and a 10-year warranty against spalling concrete.

4. As for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), it will be rolled out progressively due to the large number of eligible flats. Residents will be informed when their block is selected for upgrading.

Neighbourliness in HDB Estates

5. From hardware, let me move on to the software issue to address Mr Liang Eng Hwa’s concern. The HDB environment is a high-rise and highly dense one. Residents themselves have a key role to play to make their estate a pleasant and harmonious place to live in, like being considerate and sensitive to the needs of their neighbours.

6. We have Residents’ Committees and other Grassroots Organisations (GROs), as Mr Liang has said, in place to promote neighbourliness. On its part, HDB organises parties for residents of new Build to Order (BTO) projects for them to get to know one another. HDB also disseminates “Be a Good Neighbour” leaflets to new lessees and foreign subtenants to promote good neighbourly conduct.

7. Given the high density living in HDB estates, it is inevitable that disputes between neighbours arise from time to time. Where neighbours need help to resolve their disputes, they can turn to Grassroots Organisations as Mr Liang has pointed out earlier. For the more serious cases, they can approach the Community Mediation Centre for assistance.

8. Preserving neighbourliness is an important matter --- whether we know and trust our neighbours, whether we live harmoniously with one another. We have heard stories of how some residents would go out of their way to care for their neighbours. But I agree that the situation is less than perfect and more can be done. Therefore, I would like to suggest that a working group of Members of Parliament (MPs), including Mr Liang of course, be set up to look into what more can be done to promote harmonious living and considerate neighbourly behaviour.

Duties of Landlords in HDB Estates and Heartland Commercial Spaces

9. On the issue of duties of landlords in HDB estates and heartland commercial spaces brought up by Mdm Ho Geok Choo, she is concerned that landlords are not taking enough responsibility for the upkeep of HDB flats and shops after letting out the premises.

10. Lessees of HDB sold flats are responsible for keeping their flats in good condition and ensuring that no disamenity is caused to surrounding residents. This applies even if the lessees sublet their flats. They will be held responsible if their subtenants cause nuisance to the neighbours. If subtenants continue to cause disamenities despite warnings, HDB can revoke the subletting approval. Mdm Ho may like to know that in the last two years, HDB had issued 27 warnings for nuisance caused by subtenants as well as disallowed the subletting for nine flats.

11. For sold shops, owners have an interest in maintaining and upgrading their shops and common areas, as these affect the shopping ambience and the value of their shops of course, and also the rentals that they can charge for their shops. For this reason, many Merchants Associations work with their Town Councils to upgrade the common property in their Neighbourhood Centres and Town Centres. In addition, Town Councils are empowered to carry out improvement works to the common property and to impose charges on shop owners for such improvement works.

12. HDB has introduced the Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) Scheme that provides co-funding to help HDB retailers in revitalisation efforts like the upgrading of common areas and carrying out promotional activities.

13. However, there is a limit to how much the Government can and should do to upkeep or upgrade sold properties. Ultimately, owners must take the responsibility for their properties.

14. Mdm Ho also asked about actions taken against irresponsible acts that endanger lives in HDB estates. HDB takes a very serious view of such violations. HDB, together with other agencies, have stepped up enforcement against fire hazards in Outdoor Display Areas (ODAs) of shops. Since October 07, joint inspections covering over 1,100 commercial units across 16 Town Councils have been conducted. HDB and the Town Councils also regularly enforce against other irresponsible acts such as killer litter.

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