Family move out of 50-year-old flat as ceiling leaking water since 2022, HDB suing upstairs neighbour

The Housing Board is taking legal action against a homeowner at Block 105 Henderson Crescent to allow HDB to enter his flat and carry out repairs to fix a water leakage.

Stomper Ming, who lives one storey below the homeowner, shared photos of leaked water accumulated in a ceiling light fixture and collected in pails and pots on the floor.

Other photos show mould growing on the ceiling.

"Tell me how to live in such conditions," said the Stomper.

Her neighbours, an elderly woman and her grandson who lived directly below the homeowner, moved out of the 50-year-old flat as they were worried about getting an electric shock because of the leakage among other concerns.

The son of the woman told  the ceiling has been leaking water since 2022. It started in the kitchen, then spread to the living room and bedroom, where the flooring was damaged by the water.

He said that he had previously repaired the ceiling and pipes for about $2,000. After reporting the problem to the Housing Board at the end of 2023, he received $300 for repairs under HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme, but the problem persisted.

"The upstairs neighbour won't cooperate," said the son. "As long as his unit isn't repaired, the problem won't be solved."

The homeowner of the flat above told the Chinese-language daily that he had allowed HDB to enter his home to make repairs, but the issue was still not resolved.

HDB confirmed to Zaobao the water leakage originated from the flat above the Stomper's and was believed to be caused by the aging waterproofing layer.

In January 2024, HDB carried out partial repairs on the drain in the kitchen of the upstairs flat. Additional maintenance work on the toilet was scheduled two months later, but the homeowner repeatedly refused to allow maintenance staff to enter, so the maintenance work could not be carried out.

HDB said it had tried to contact the homeowner several times and sent four lawyers' letters between April and November 2024, asking him to cooperate, but the homeowner insisted that the water leakage had nothing to do with his flat.

The board also hired a contractor to use microwave imaging technology to sca through the concrete, confirming that the water seepage came from the upstairs flat.

Grassroots leaders tried to mediate and provide assistance with repair cost but to no avail.

HDB added that it is preparing to file a lawsuit to compel the homeowner to allow repairs to be made.