HDB's Support for Maintenance of Older Flats Beyond Home Improvement Programme
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Christopher de Souza’s inquiry regarding HDB’s support for the maintenance of older residential flats beyond the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), specifically for piping and cracked walls. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee clarified that Town Councils manage common property while flat owners are responsible for interior repairs, though HIP proactively addresses major issues in 30-year-old flats. Outside of HIP, owners should contact Town Councils for main soil pipe issues or engage licensed plumbers for other sanitary repairs and patch minor internal wall cracks themselves. HDB and Town Councils conduct regular inspections of exterior walls, with HDB performing immediate repairs if a crack compromises structural integrity. Finally, flat owners are encouraged to utilize HDB’s online Home Care Guide for resources on maintaining their homes in good condition.
Transcript
32 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for National Development how does HDB support the greater need for maintenance of residential estates beyond the Home Improvement Programme especially among older flats that have issues with piping and cracked walls.
Mr Desmond Lee: As flats age, building materials will naturally deteriorate. Town Councils are responsible for maintaining the common property, while flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of the interior of their flats and for undertaking repair works where needed.
For flats that are around 30 years old, the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) systematically and proactively addresses common maintenance issues and provides improvements within flats, including repairing spalling concrete and structural cracks, and replacing the waste / soil discharge pipes if necessary. Outside of HIP, flat owners who encounter issues with the main soil pipe can approach their Town Councils for assistance. For all other piping or sanitary issues, flat owners should engage licensed plumbers to carry out the repairs.
Minor wall cracks inside flats do not affect the structural integrity and safety of the building. Flat owners can patch up and repaint their walls. For exterior and facade walls, the Town Councils carries out inspections and upkeep of these walls. Notwithstanding, HDB also supplements with regular inspections, and will immediately repair if the crack could potentially compromise the structural integrity of the building.
To help flat owners maintain their homes in good condition, HDB has developed a Home Care Guide, which is published on the HDB InfoWEB. Flat owners are encouraged to refer to this useful resource for the necessary information to keep their flats in good condition.