Taking a deeper dive and seeking partners to better the lives of residents in rental flats

My team and I are keen to take a deeper dive and seek partners to better the lives of our residents in rental flats. There are some wonderful partners we have already found to serve with, besides the government agencies such as HDB.

Here are some Parliamentary questions for our ground prep work, on the physical aspect of living first. Thank you, volunteers, from Keeping Hope Alive, Mummy Yummy, The New Charis Mission and others who are seasoned players in this space.

Will update friends later as we progress. It will take a village including residents themselves too to do life better together.

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(1) Parl Question on ADDRESSING BED BUG INFESTATIONS AND EXCESSIVE HOARDING PROBLEMS AT HDB RENTAL BLOCKS

22 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB will provide a more effective solution for HDB rental flats that are affected by bed bug infestations and excessive hoarding.

Mr Desmond Lee: When HDB receives feedback on the cleanliness of a rental flat, HDB officers will carry out an inspection.

Should there be a bed bug infestation, HDB will provide pest control treatment on a goodwill basis. For cases where the infestation is serious, HDB will also assist to transfer the tenant to another rental flat, and clean up the affected flat.

Hoarding cases tend to be more complex, involving multiple issues and affecting multiple parties, such as the resident, their family, as well as their neighbours and community. The Municipal Services Office has worked with relevant agencies to develop a Hoarding Management Framework, to guide officers across agencies in providing coordinated support to resolve the hoarding issue.

The resident will first be advised to remove excess items and keep their flat tidy. For severe cases which pose a risk or dis-amenities to neighbours, HDB will also work with regulatory agencies, such as SCDF for fire hazards and NEA for public health, to declutter the flat for the safety of the resident and the community.

As cases of excessive hoarding and serious bedbug infestation could be an indication of other underlying issues, HDB works with relevant Social Service Agencies and AIC to provide counselling and appropriate support to the resident.

(2) Parl Question on REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF HDB RENTAL FLATS

21 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB will consider providing regular cyclical maintenance for HDB rental flats beyond the typical repair works.

Mr Desmond Lee: HDB inspects all rental flats annually to proactively detect defects. HDB will repair or replace any defective finishes and fittings reported by existing tenants, and before flats are let out to new tenants.

Apart from regular maintenance, rental blocks are also upgraded, similar to sold blocks,

as part of the Home Improvement and Lift Upgrading Programmes.

In addition to these,

there are specific programmes for rental blocks, such as the Rental Flat Upgrading Project,

1 and Project LIFE .

HDB will continue to keep rental flats in good condition through regular maintenance and upgrading. For example, rental flats will be upgraded in tandem with sold flats when HIP II is implemented. As the flats age, HDB will also study the need for further programmes to maintain and refresh its stock of rental flats.

Note(s):

1Project LIFE stands for Lift Improvement and Facilities Enhancement for the elderly.