Letting Prospective Buyers of Resale Flats Know History of Repairs
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether HDB would provide prospective resale flat buyers with a unit’s history of repairs, including those recorded by Town Councils. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee replied that resale transactions are based on the caveat emptor principle, meaning flat owners are responsible for maintenance. He clarified that HDB does not collect comprehensive data on repairs within flats or those managed through Town Council systems. Prospective buyers are advised to inspect units themselves or engage qualified building surveyors to ensure they are satisfied with a flat’s condition. While HDB and Town Councils may provide advice on external issues, owners remain responsible for deciding on and engaging contractors for repairs.
Transcript
68 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB has considered providing to prospective buyers of resale flats, on request, a history of known repairs effected on the unit, including those effected by Town Councils through their integrated estate management systems.
Mr Desmond Lee: The sale and purchase of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flat is premised on the caveat emptor principle, as with the sale and purchase of resale private properties.
Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance and repairs needed to upkeep their flats. Generally, they would have to engage their own contractor to carry out any repairs within their flats. On a case-by-case basis, if they need help, HDB may assist to check and offer advice to the flat owners on the remedial repairs. HDB will also provide a list of repair contractors to flat owners if they encounter difficulties in engaging one. However, the decision lies with flat owners if they wish to proceed with the repair and whom they intend to engage.
For maintenance issues arising from external sources such as wall seepages, HDB will work with the Town Council to provide advice or assistance to the flat owner to address such issues.
HDB does not collect comprehensive data on repairs done within flats by owners, or information on repairs effected by Town Councils through their integrated estate management systems.
Buyers of HDB resale flats are advised to inspect and be satisfied with the condition of the flats that they are purchasing before committing to the purchase. Home buyers may engage a Qualified Person, for example, a building surveyor, to help them with the inspections before the purchase if they find it necessary.