MAKING PUBLIC RENOVATION PERMITS ISSUED BY HDB FOR AUTHORISED RENOVATION WORKS

Thanks to feedback from a resident who was concerned about the noise generated by renovation works at a neighbouring unit, I asked the Minister for National Development if information about renovation works may be made public. The Minister informed that information of major works involving hacking, etc, can be assessed through MSO’s OneService app (Home Renovation Notice). However, works that do not involve structural works (eg carpentry or electrical works) are not regulated by HDB. Hence, it is left to the unit owners to take steps to inform their neighbours. My PQ and the Minister’s answer may be accessed below.

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Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB can make public, through its portal or any other appropriate platform, of the renovation permits that it has issued for authorised renovation works at HDB flats so that residents of the affected blocks can make better plans on how to organise their day to avoid or minimise the disturbance arising from the renovation works on them.

Mr Desmond Lee: Certain renovation works that may affect the structural integrity of the HDB block, such as the demolition of walls and hacking of flooring, require a renovation permit from HDB. Before carrying out such works, renovation contractors are required to inform the households within a radius of two flats of the unit being renovated, including the upper and lower floor neighbours, at least five days in advance to give the neighbours notice and time to make prior adjustments. Contractors are also required to put up the Notice of Renovation Works outside the flat being renovated during the renovation period, displaying the contact details of the renovation contractor, duration of the renovation, and the dates of the hacking works.

Since July 2021, residents have been able to log into the MSO’s OneService app (Home Renovation Notice) to find out details, including the start and end dates, of units in their block which are undergoing renovation works where an HDB permit is required. With the app, residents can choose to receive alerts for upcoming flat renovation works approved by HDB in their blocks.

Renovation works that do not affect the structural integrity of the HDB block, such as electrical and carpentry works, are not regulated by HDB. As these works may also generate some noise, HDB encourages the flat owners and their contractors to adopt measures to minimise the noise generated and to similarly keep their immediate neighbours informed of the works in advance.