Making Public Renovation Permits Issued by HDB for Authorised Renovation Works
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Murali Pillai’s inquiry on making HDB renovation permits public to help residents plan for disturbances, to which Minister for National Development Desmond Lee responded by highlighting current notification protocols. He explained that for works requiring permits, contractors must inform neighbours within a two-flat radius five days in advance and display a physical notice detailing the work duration. Since July 2021, residents can also use the OneService app to receive alerts and view start and end dates for HDB-approved renovation works in their blocks. For works not affecting structural integrity, HDB does not regulate permits but encourages owners to inform neighbours and adopt noise-minimising measures. These digital and physical systems ensure that residents remain informed of both structural and non-structural renovation activities occurring in their vicinity.
Transcript
50 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB can make public, through its portal or any other appropriate platform, of the renovation permits that it has issued for authorised renovation works at HDB flats so that residents of the affected blocks can make better plans on how to organise their day to avoid or minimise the disturbance arising from the renovation works on them.
Mr Desmond Lee: Certain renovation works that may affect the structural integrity of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) block, such as the demolition of walls and hacking of flooring, require a renovation permit from HDB. Before carrying out such works, renovation contractors are required to inform the households within a radius of two flats of the unit being renovated, including the upper and lower floor neighbours, at least five days in advance to give the neighbours notice and time to make prior adjustments. Contractors are also required to put up the Notice of Renovation Works outside the flat being renovated during the renovation period, displaying the contact details of the renovation contractor, duration of the renovation and the dates of the hacking works.
Since July 2021, residents have been able to log into the Municipal Services Office (MSO)'s OneService app, Home Renovation Notice, to find out details, including the start and end dates of units in their block which are undergoing renovation works where an HDB permit is required. With the app, residents can choose to receive alerts for upcoming flat renovation works approved by HDB in their blocks.
Renovation works that do not affect the structural integrity of the HDB block, such as electrical and carpentry works, are not regulated by HDB. As these works may also generate some noise, HDB encourages the flat owners and their contractors to adopt measures to minimise the noise generated and to similarly keep their immediate neighbours informed of the works in advance.