Debated in Parliament on 2 Oct 2017.
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider reviewing the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme to (i) have HDB bear the full cost of repairs for ceiling leaks/structural defects resulting from normal wear and tear or (ii) have only the unit owner who had carried out internal renovation works that may have led to the ceiling leaks, to co-share the cost of the goodwill repairs with HDB.
Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of the interior of their flats. The repair of leaks in the party structure (that is, the floor slab between flats) is a joint responsibility between the upper- and lower-floor flat owners. Hence, when there is a leak, both upper- and lower-floor flat owners will need to liaise with each other to investigate and carry out repairs.
Notwithstanding, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) does offer assistance to affected flat owners through the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme where HDB pays 50% of the ceiling leak repair cost, while the remaining 50% is shared equally between the upper- and lower-floor flat owners. There is no plan for HDB to bear the full cost of repairs under the GRA scheme, as this would remove the responsibility of flat owners for the maintenance and upkeep of their flat.
GRA provides assistance to flat owners to repair ceiling leaks and spalling concrete due to natural wear and tear. For cases where investigations ascertain that leaks are due to renovations carried out at the upper floor flat, the upper floor flat owner will be fully responsible for rectifying the leak and will have to bear the full cost of repair.
PAPERCUTS