HDB Plays Punk When Asked to Rectify Defects in New Anchorvale PRC-Built Flat

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

http://therealsingapore.com/content/...ndreds-defects

HDB DELAYING, TRYING TO AVOID RECTIFYING NEW BTO THAT HAS HUNDREDS OF DEFECTS.node-article .field-name-ad-box-in-article {float: left;margin: 15px 15px 10px 0;}.node-article .field-tags{clear: both;}

Post date:
13 Jun 2014 - 2:35pm












Dear TRS,

I would like to share some unpleasant issues which Singaporean experienced but close an eye to. I hope these can be shared to all Singaporeans since some facts are actually hidden by the authorities.

Government kept emphasizing on Cheap and Quality housings for Singaporeans, but HDB as one of their main channel to carry out the mission does not follow. Please see photographs attached, these are the kind of Quality, HDB is providing to Anchorvale Horizon residences. We understand even with 100% checks done, there ought to be defects but as you can see, those are really not acceptable. And every flat owners actually paid HDB for the inspection. But it seem like HDB is collecting the money and doing nothing. Please do not misunderstand that I am complaining for my personal benefits, I am writing in in hope that these can be shared so that all Singaporeans can have their rightfully deserved housings for the high amount they paid for.

I had bought a flat in Anchorvale Horizon, a premium BTO unit which cost about $320+K excluding HDB loan of about another $100K. Understanding from HDB personnel, Premium BTO came with floorings done and charged to the flat as a whole. And owners are not allowed to opt out for the flooring. Thus we had no choice but to leave the flooring job to HDB.

Our nightmares started when we got our keys to our unit, there are many defects which could not be squeezed into the defect reporting form HDB provided. Our living flooring is terribly done; edges of almost all tiles are not even and they even have rough edges that might cut our feet. When reporting them to the contractor (from China, Jing Ye), they turned defensive mentioning they are following guideline provided by HDB. If we are like some other not highly educated Singaporeans, or those who do not know what they can fight for, we might had unwillingly accept the flooring. But I think that is not right for us to keep quiet and except them, thus I requested for joint inspection with the presence of HDB personnel. BSC, the unit that help us coordinate the defects reworks, told us on the following week that HDB personnel will go down to check before arranging the joint inspection.

My wife and I had marked all the defects except the living room flooring for reporting. But on the day of the joint inspection, I was surprised that there are markings on the floor with the word "uneven" on them. And best of all, even with them on which were marked by either the contractors of HDB, the HDB personnel denied that it was neither their contractor's fault nor HDB fault. And they tried to cover themselves claiming the flooring is acceptable according to 'Industrial practice' and they are under 'Tolerances'. And he added "but we will try to rectify it for you".

That is very contradicting, why would they marked my flooring with "uneven" wordings and still insist that the flooring are okay. He seem like trying his luck to smoke us, i believe some of our neighbors might been told off just like this; but he can sense our unhappiness and knew we would escalate further. So they decide to hack away the existing flooring and relay them. Results are still the same, after 5-6 times of rectifications there are no improvement in the flooring. And every meeting takes place on weekdays which we had to took vacation leaves just to compromise to HDB personnel working timing. And the frustrating part is every meeting that HDB personnel would use the same excuse to try convince us to accept the flooring, and if we do not accept he would tell us he will ask the contractors to rework again. I found it weird that no matter how lousy someone's workmanship is, they will not kept repeating the same mistake unless they are real idiots.

Thus i took out the spare tile that HDB gave to take a look. I was amazed that the tiles can rock on the flooring, then I understand not only the workmanship has problem, the tiles is a defect itself. The tile itself is uneven with some area popping up and yet that HDB personnel kept trying his luck to tell us off. This is a terrible integrity issue and I became very disappointed with HDB; But on the other hand i thought maybe it is just that person, so i decided to give them a chance by escalating these to higher authorities in HDB. Ironically, they refused to handle it and divert the emails back to that same guy. Thus i escalated it to our MP and he agreed to try to help as he mentioned many neighbor complained too. He came to our houses to meet up with me and some other neighbors whom had terrible defects even the blinds can see. He witnessed for himself and understand why there is so many complaints, thus he advised that HDB personnel in front of us to check with his higher authorities if they can work out with some reimbursements for owners.

But that was all turned deaf eared, no follow up was done except HDB going back to their old tricks of rectifications after rectifications. Hoping one day you will give up and accept whatever they provide to you. Many owners gave up because they rented flats outside or are getting married. The draggings made them run out of time/money for their plans. Knowing that HDB would not be bothered even with the MP helping us, I wrote in to Ministry of National Development and the MP in charged of it hoping to seek some justice, but there are more rubbish to come.

After 6-8weeks, we go back to square one with that particular same guy replying to my email saying they are "Actively" looking into the issues. MND actually goes back to HDB and HDB goes back to him. There is no escalation path in this ministry, that is the funniest thing i get to know. And I actually did asked that HDB guy to provide me the so call "Industrial Practices" guidelines, but it had been 4 weeks and he is still waiting for approval to reveal to us. We are the owners and they required clearances to reveal something we should know to us. I even wrote to the president but was referred back to MND and HDB. There is something terribly wrong with their doings, and I hope Singaporeans are aware of them and be prepared.

Here is a compilation of some of the photos of defects in ours and our neighbours' supposedly brand new, quality, BTO flats:


This is really unacceptable!
Singaporean
TRS Contributor


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