http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/...fects-20130106
The Peak residents see red over defects
Owners of Toa Payoh DBSS flats say problems, due to poor quality of materials and workmanship, resurface soon after being fixed
Published on Jan 06, 2013
By Esther Teo
Barely six months after getting the keys to their new homes, several residents of The Peak in Toa Payoh are complaining about defects.
They raised their concerns over the quality, workmanship and cleanliness of their 1,203-unit Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project with Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Hri Kumar Nair yesterday.
Top of their list of woes were defects due to the quality of materials used and the workmanship of flooring and doors in the flats.
Residents' committee chairman Victor Chow told The Sunday Times that about 20 to 30 per cent of flat owners have raised concerns over defects.
More than 200 gathered last evening at a two-hour dialogue with Mr Nair, their first such meeting since they started moving in last year.
Apart from the defects, they also complained about rats at one block, dirty common areas and safety issues to do with traffic flow.
Mr Chow reckoned that some of the defects would require developer Hoi Hup Sunway JV to replace fittings with better-quality products.
"Residents are frustrated because they pay a premium for DBSS flats. Many of the residents here are young families that are first-time home owners, so their expectations are higher," he said.
DBSS flats are a hybrid form of public housing. Designed and sold by private developers, they typically come with fittings and better finishings than standard Build-to-Order (BTO) flats.
Demand was overwhelming when The Peak was launched in 2009, with roughly five applications for every two units. Flat prices go up to $722,000.
An owner of a five-room flat, Mr K.S. Tan, said defects in his unit were promptly rectified when the contractors were told, but quickly resurfaced.
"The kitchen cabinet laminates which were glued back came off again within a week, the bedroom cabinet doors still cannot be closed properly even after the workers worked on the hinges," he said. "Residents want a permanent solution to the problems, not a quick fix that cannot last long."
Another resident, Mr Gary Lim, 40, who bought a five-room flat for $550,000, said that some of the wooden flooring in his unit had turned black - something other residents complained about, too.
"It's a recurring problem. The flooring has already been replaced twice. But we are hoping for the developer to find the root cause of the problem and a more permanent solution," he said.
But not all residents are unhappy. Five-room flat owner Hafiz Magnus, 29, said that he was satisfied with the quality of his flat.
There were some cracks in the tiles when he first moved in last July, but they were fixed in less than a month, he said.
Mr Nair told The Sunday Times he will keep an eye on the issue and ensure that the developer pays attention to the problems and responds to residents.
"Whether the developer will be able to address the defects to the satisfaction of the residents is something I can't comment on now. But I want to make sure that the process is open and transparent and that there is engagement with the developer. That's most important for now," he said.
As DBSS flats are built by private developers and packaged as a premium product compared with Housing Board BTO flats, owners expect better finishes, he added. "They are entitled to feel that way... I don't think their expectations are unreasonable."
A spokesman for Hoi Hup Sunway JV said that its main contractor had addressed all feedback from owners "religiously".
For complaints about rusting pipes and bathroom features and peeling wall paint, rectification works were being done and there were no outstanding cases currently.
"Due to the different nature of the items, the defects may arise due to different sources and causes. Our main contractor will assess them on a case-by-case basis," he added.
The Housing Board said that under the sales-and-purchase agreement, developers are obliged to rectify any defects reported to them within a one-year defects liability period. Units at The Peak, completed in April last year, still fall within this period.
The HDB added that for defects reported but not dealt with within this period, it will assist in working with the residents, local advisers and the developers to resolve the issues amicably.
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