Monitoring of Maintenance Standards at HDB Car Parks
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Murali Pillai’s inquiry into how HDB monitors car park maintenance, tracks performance, and whether payment structures could be reviewed to ensure timely repairs. Minister Desmond Lee responded that Town Councils serve as maintenance agents, with HDB conducting audits through its officers and service providers. In 2021, HDB transitioned from a flat fee to a performance-based payment model and introduced Liquidated Damages to ensure maintenance standards are met. Furthermore, a new integrated Estates Management System (iEMS) was introduced to track defect status and provide HDB with better oversight of car park conditions. Once fully implemented, the iEMS will allow for closer monitoring and ensure that Town Councils carry out maintenance in a more timely manner.
Transcript
48 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development (a) how does HDB proactively monitor the maintenance standards at its HDB car parks; (b) how does HDB track the performance of parties contracted to maintain its car parks; and (c) whether the flat fee payment arrangement under the current contracts between HDB and Town Councils for maintenance of HDB car parks may be reviewed to promote the timely maintenance of HDB car parks.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) appoints Town Councils as the maintenance agent for car parks. The Maintenance Agreement between HDB and the Town Councils requires Town Councils to carry out routine maintenance, keep the car parks in a state of good and serviceable repair and carry out yearly inspections.
HDB conducts checks on the maintenance of the car parks through audit checks by HDB officers and checks by HDB car park service providers.
In 2021, following a review of the Maintenance Agreement, HDB moved away from a flat fee payment arrangement, in which Town Councils were paid a flat fee depending on car park type and location, to a performance-based payment model based on maintenance outcomes. HDB also introduced Liquidated Damages clauses in the Maintenance Agreement to ensure that maintenance standards are met.
A new integrated Estates Management System (iEMS) was also introduced to track the maintenance status of HDB properties including car parks. The iEMS will allow HDB to monitor the timely rectification of defects and provide HDB with better oversight of the condition of the car parks. HDB is now in the initial phase of onboarding Town Councils to the iEMS. When fully implemented, HDB will be able to more closely monitor conditions of the HDB car parks, ensuring that the maintenance of the car parks is carried out in a more timely manner.
HDB will continue to strengthen the maintenance regime of car parks, to better serve the needs of our residents.