SINGAPORE — A homeowner who was initially excited to receive the key to her new flat at Rivervale Shores in Sengkang, turned angry when she discovered numerous defects in her Build-to-Order (BTO) unit.
These defects included dented doors, small gaps in the walls, uneven tiles, and other design flaws.
Rivervale Shores is a BTO project located in District 19, Sengkang East Drive area, comprising 2,500 units of 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room flats. The project was launched in the August 2017 BTO Sales Launch.
One of the homebuyers, Jess Choo, expressed her frustration on social media and uploaded a video showcasing the issues in her unit.
“HDB you should send someone to check before key collection”, she expressed her dissatisfaction, emphasizing that these defects are unacceptable. She highlighted issues like door dents, holes, uneven tiles, and incomplete finishing.
She highlighted that the balcony was in the worst condition.
In a recent interview with “8 World News,” she noted that even before moving in, the paint was already peeling off, and there were misplaced water pipe covers.
The walls and corners were filled with numerous small holes, providing entry points for ants.
Jess also mentioned scratches on doors and gates, and one of the room’s window hinges was already rusted, raising concerns about potential safety hazards.
Applied for the BTO seven years ago
Jess explained that she and her two young children currently live in rental flat, while her eldest daughter lives with relatives.
Due to the limited space in the rental flat, her eldest daughter applied for a four-room unit at Rivervale Shores seven years ago.
The family was looking forward to the upgrade from a small home to a larger one but was disheartened to discover numerous issues in the unit after receiving the keys on 27 June.
Renovation plans postponed
Jess’s daughter reported the problems to the Housing Development Board (HDB), and two HDB inspectors, a contractor, and two foreign workers visited the unit on 3 July and assured Jess that the issues would be resolved within two weeks.
As a result, the renovation plans scheduled for this month had to be postponed until October, as it is not auspicious to carry out renovations during the seventh lunar month.
Sengkang MP suggests options for joint inspection booking
Meanwhile, Louis Chua, Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC from the Workers’ Party, recently visited the building service centre at Rivervale.
Currently, eight out of the 16 blocks have been handed over, and the next two blocks are expected to be handed over very soon.
While he acknowledged that most residents he met were generally satisfied with their units upon handover, there were, however, a few units that may have more serious defects, requiring extra attention.
“But I’m grateful to the on-site team for going the extra mile to help all our residents move into their new homes ASAP. ”
Louis Chua also advised residents who wish to book an appointment for a joint inspection of their unit to do so through the HDB website. Alternatively, they can directly contact the team at 69048003 or [email protected] for a faster response.
HDB: Homeowners can report unit defects during the one-year Defects Liability Period
In response to media queries, an HDB spokesperson acknowledged that they are aware of the resident’s feedback regarding defects in her BTO flat at Block 175B Sengkang East Drive.
Upon investigation, HDB confirmed that some of the paint on the balcony had peeled off, and there were paint stains on the balcony floor.
The HDB spokesperson explained that this issue likely arose due to a recent rainy spell that occurred after the contractor completed the final inspection of the unit. The rain caused the balcony paint to wash off before it had fully dried, resulting in stains on the balcony floor.
Apart from the balcony issue, HDB assured that the other reported problems in the flat are minor in nature. The contractor will rectify these defects, clean the paint stains, and touch up the paintwork within a two-week timeframe.
Furthermore, HDB emphasized that homeowners can report any issues in their newly completed HDB flats to the onsite Building Services Centre during the one-year Defects Liability Period, ensuring timely rectification.
HDB clarified that the majority of feedback received pertains to minor defects on surfaces, fixtures, and fittings, such as uneven wall surfaces, painting imperfections, scratches on doors or window frames, and skirting joint issues.
Importantly, these defects do not compromise the structural integrity of the building or the overall livability of the flats.
In regards to Rivervale Shores, the HDB spokesperson highlighted that they have already addressed and rectified 90 percent of the reported issues within 14 working days, demonstrating a strong commitment to promptly resolving concerns for the residents.
