Additional Support to Resolve Disamenities from Cigarette Smoke and Noise Disturbance between Neighbours in HDB Blocks

73 Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for National Development what new guidelines and support are being contemplated by HDB to resolve disamenities impacting neighbours arising from cigarette smoke and noise disturbance, in this new normal of extended periods at home with the home fast becoming the workplace as well.

Mr Desmond Lee: Neighbours are encouraged to accord respect and consideration to one another, especially when more people are at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One household’s lifestyle or habit could cause inconvenience or disturbance to another household. When disamenities occur due to human behaviour, we encourage communication between neighbours as a first step towards resolving the matter.

To assist HDB residents affected by second-hand cigarette smoke from neighbouring homes, HDB works with Town Councils and NEA to advise smokers to exercise consideration for others. A Joint Advisory on Smoking in Homes will be issued to the residential unit reported to be emitting second-hand smoke, encouraging considerate behaviour and emphasising the negative impact that second-hand smoke may have on their neighbours.

For residents affected by noise disturbance from neighbours, HDB will convey the feedback to the neighbours and seek their understanding to keep the noise level down. When alerted to feedback about disamenities – whether smoking or noise-related – most neighbours will cooperate and take measures to minimise the inconvenience to other residents.

HDB has also put in place measures to mitigate renovation noise and its impact, given that more residents are now working or studying from home and may be affected by renovation noise. For instance, from July 2021, HDB residents will be able to view notices for upcoming flat renovation works at their blocks, that have been approved by HDB, through the OneService App.

Should disputes remain intractable, residents can seek help from community leaders or the Community Mediation Centre for mediation to resolve the issue amicably. They can also file a case at the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal as a last resort. MCCY is also currently leading an inter-agency review to strengthen the Community Dispute Management Framework, which seeks to promote neighbourliness to minimise disputes and to encourage the amicable resolution of disputes via mediation.

In terms of public education, HDB actively engages residents through exhibitions, volunteer networks like the Friends of Our Heartlands, and campaigns such as the recent collaboration with the Singapore Kindness Movement on the "Then How" public messaging series.

The Municipal Services Office (MSO) has also just launched an ongoing study to better understand noise issues in specific feedback hotspots in HDB estates, so that we can develop new strategies to approach this issue. In addition, MSO is working with residents, grassroots organisations and community stakeholders in various Divisions across Singapore through the Love Our ’Hood Initiative to design community solutions to address neighbourly disamenities, with the next location being Pioneer. Ultimately, good communication and neighbourliness amongst residents are key to minimising neighbourhood disamenities.