Neighbours Suffer as HDB Leak Goes Unfixed for 2 Years!

 

An elderly woman has been forced to vacate her home after a persistent water leak from the unit above left her flat uninhabitable for over two years. The issue, which originated from the unit above hers at Block 105 Henderson Crescent, has caused severe structural damage, affecting not only her home but also her neighbor's.

The woman's 54-year-old son, Chen Jun, shared that the family has lived in the unit for five decades. The first leak occurred four years ago when a burst pipe flooded their kitchen. Despite repairing the damage and renovating the unit, the leak re-emerged two years later. At first, the family believed the issue was within their own home and reported it to the Housing and Development Board (HDB). However, investigations later revealed that the source was the unit above.

To mitigate the issue, HDB suggested injecting polyurethane (PU) sealant as a temporary measure, and multiple rounds of injections were carried out. Despite these efforts, the water leakage persisted, making it impossible for the elderly woman to continue living in the home. She was forced to relocate while her son continued seeking a resolution. He even offered to cover the full cost of repairs for the upstairs unit, but the homeowner eventually refused to cooperate, citing distrust in HDB. All attempts to negotiate failed, and contact was lost.

The situation worsened when the water leakage spread to the neighboring unit. The 50-year-old neighbor, Yun, noticed water stains appearing in her kitchen ceiling in September last year. Within three months, the dampness spread rapidly, creating a strong musty odor. Her kitchen cabinets became so damp that she could no longer store food in them. Realizing the severity of the issue, she also reported it to HDB. The agency conducted inspections, but no permanent solution was provided.

HDB confirmed that the leakage originated from the upstairs unit due to aging waterproofing layers. Officials attempted partial repairs at the affected unit's drainage area in January last year, but additional repairs scheduled for March were blocked by the homeowner’s refusal to grant access. Despite multiple attempts to communicate with the homeowner, including four legal notices between April and November 2024, he continued to deny responsibility.

To further verify the problem, HDB engaged external contractors to conduct microwave scans of the concrete structure. The results confirmed that water was indeed seeping from the upper unit. Grassroots leaders also attempted to mediate, even offering to cover repair costs, but to no avail.

Since repair work requires the cooperation of the upstairs homeowner, HDB has been unable to proceed. With all efforts exhausted, HDB is now preparing legal action to compel the homeowner to allow repairs.