April 26, 2021

DBS today unveiled their “DBS Green Solutions” package, a holistic suite of sustainable living solutions for consumers’ everyday lives.

The post DBS unveils “DBS Green Solutions” package for payments and purchases appeared first on iCompareLoan.

All mortgages in Singapore are not equal, which is why you need a customised home loan.

The post If you don’t get a customised home loan, you may not be getting a good deal appeared first on iCompareLoan.

An industrial development formerly owned by Catalist-listed building solutions provider Libra Group is up for sale via private treaty.

The post Industrial development at 53 Loyang Drive for sale at guide price of $25m appeared first on iCompareLoan.

Rebound in investment activity in the region is supported by greater real estate investor confidence as Asia Pacific leads the economic recovery across the world.

The post Real estate investor confidence returns to Asia Pacific says new research appeared first on iCompareLoan.

The past quarter has been pretty eventful for the property market. For instance, February recorded the highest number of million-dollar HDB resale flats sold in a month. And last month in March, we saw the highest sales of luxury homes sold in a month since November 2013.  546 units were sold in the Core Central...

The post Luxury home shopping spree: Which are some of the condos in the CCR people have been buying? appeared first on 99.co.

When your new property is ready for key collection, the developer will provide you with a ‘warranty’ period known as the Defect Liability Period. During this time, the developer will be liable for any defects in your home, so it’s good that you do a thorough inspection of your property before the Defect Liability Period expires. 

This article aims to explain what the Defect Liability Period is all about, what you should inspect, and what you can do in case of disputes. 

 

What Is The Defect Liability Period?

As explained above, the Defect Liability Period is the period of time where the developer will be responsible to replace and fix any defects in your home for free (e.g. stains, cracks, faulty power points).

As such, it’s important that you inspect your home for any damages, defects, poor workmanship, or even missing fixtures/appliances that were not promised in the sale and purchase agreement so that you can report them and get these issues resolved.

It’s also worth noting that you should check for defects before renovating your home. If not, it may be difficult to prove that the damages are indeed defects, and not done by your contractors or the builder. Not only that, but it would also be harder to rectify certain defects after renovation. 

 

How Long Is The Defect Liability Period?

The standard Defect Liability Period for public and private properties is usually a year, and will start when (whichever is earlier):

• The date of when you collect the keys to your home (i.e. Notice for Vacant Possession) or;
• When the development receives the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)

Since there is an interval between the TOP date and when you collect the keys to your home, the actual time to report any defects may be shorter. 

For HDB properties, HDB also provides extended warranty coverage for these major defects: 

Issue	Warranty period
Ceiling leaks at toilets/kitchen	5 years
Water seepage from external wall	5 years
Spalling concrete	10 years

 

What Is Considered As a Defect?

Though the definition of defect can be technical, the best reference is in your sale and purchase agreement, which will state what your developer is responsible for. Generally, you should ask yourself:

• If the fixtures and appliances are working
• Is the workmanship good?
• Is everything promised in the sale and purchase agreement is included in your home?

Also, remember that it is only considered a defect if it’s caused by the builder, so wear and tear does not count. 

 

What Defects Should You Check For?

Here’s a rough guide on what defects to keep an eye out for:

Walls and ceilings	Inspect the walls and ceilings for any hairline cracks, stains and lines
Floors and tiles	Scratches and chips on the floor tiles, stains as well as uneven floor tiles
Doors and gates	Check if the doors open and close smoothly, if there are screeching noises and for rust
Windows	Open and close the windows to ensure that this can be done smoothly. Ensure that the locking mechanism is functioning smoothly
Plumbing	Check for stains and leaks on floors, walls, around valves, and fixtures
Electrical outlets/wiring	Inspect if electrical outlets have no mould or cracks; make sure the power points are working
Toilet	No stains, cracks, leaks in the toilet or around the toilet bowl and seat. Also check if the flushing system functions smoothly
Bathroom fixtures	Check for cracks, scratches, leaks or water seepage around basins, taps and showerheads. Test if the water pressure runs smoothly without sputtering
Clothes drying rack	No cracks and defects

For a more comprehensive checklist, you may refer to our defect-checking guide for BTO as well as for executive condos (EC) and private condos. 

 

How Do You Report Defects?

HDB flats 

During the one-year Defect Liability Period, HDB will set up a Building Service Centre (BSC) within your estate to help facilitate defects reporting. You can choose to report to the BSC directly and pick a date on the spot for a joint inspection with HDB’s contractor. Aside from that, you may also send your feedback via email or letters, and the BSC will respond within three working days to schedule a joint inspection. 

If the issue is indeed a quality or inherent defect, HDB will rectify the work in 14 days. If more time is needed, HDB will inform you of the expected completion date. 

Once the defects have been repaired, HDB will schedule another joint inspection with you to ensure that the defects have been properly rectified. 

 

Private properties

For private properties, you can report for defects by filling out a form handled by the developer (though some developers provide an online form). The developer will then have to get back to make an appointment for a joint inspection with you, and rectify any defects within a month. 

If the developer fails to rectify the defects within a month of receiving the notification, you may inform the developer of your intention to engage your own contractor as well as the estimated cost of repairs. If the developer is still unresponsive after 14 days, you can hire your contractor to carry out the work and recover the costs from your developer. 

(According to the Ministry of Development, private developers are responsible for defects and design flaws in ECs as the sale and purchase agreement is signed between the buyer and the developer.) 

 

What Happens If There Are Issues After The Defect Liability Period? 

Some defects will only emerge after a few years — well after the Defect Liability Period. This is known as latent defects which is defined as “defects which are not readily apparent or discoverable.” Examples of latent defects include structural defects, water leakages from rain spells, and under-powered aircon pumps. 

Usually, the developer would be liable for up to 15 years after the completion of the project. You may make a report for such defects, and the developer would lodge an investigation to determine the root cause.

However, there’s no guarantee that the developer will compensate for the cost or take responsibility for the defects (developers, architects or contractors may say that it’s down to wear and tear for example). In such cases, you would have to fork out of your own pockets to fix the issue. 

According to HDB, if the cause of the issue is related to workmanship or engineering/design, such as structural defects like spalling concrete and cracks, then HDB will repair them on a case-by-case basis. However, if the issue is caused by wear and tear or a lack of property maintenance, then you would need to repair it on your own. 

Can You Sue Your Developer For Defects?

According to this Business Times article, buyers have the right to sue “for latent defects up to three years after defects could have reasonably been detected, or a general right of up to six years to sue in contract”. However, it’s not always clear when the rights start and end. Furthermore, pursuing the case in court could cost up to $500,000 and take up to four years to settle. 

A less time-consuming and expensive alternative is mediation, which the Building Construction Authority (BCA) recommends as the first step to resolve disputes/disagreements between yourself and the developer. A neutral third party, known as a mediator will help to offer solutions that are amicable to both parties. 

The three main organisations that provide mediation services are: Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS), and Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). You may read this article for more information

 

Other FAQs Related to Defect Liability Period

1. What is The Defect Liability Period?

The Defect Liability Period is the period of time, usually either from the date of Notice of Vacant Possession or when the developer receives the TOP, where the developer will be responsible to replace and fix any defects in your home for free. The standard period is a year. 

 

2. What Happens After the Defect Liability Period?

If there are defects after The Defect Liability Period has expired, your developer will investigate the issue; if it’s caused by a latent defect, such as structural damage, then the developer may compensate, but this is based on a case-by-case basis.

 

3. How Long Will the Building Service Centre (BSC) Be in Operation in My Precinct?

The BSC will be at your estate during the duration of the Defect Liability Period, which is usually a year.

 

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Installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras outside your home can help to monitor your premises and deter crimes such as theft and harassment. Surveillance footage is also handy as video proof in case of neighbour disputes or as evidence to help the police solve crimes. 

It’s also common to see CCTV cameras installed within homes, especially for residents who want to keep an eye on the safety of their pets, children and/or elderly parents.

But whilst it’s common to see CCTV cameras installed both within and outside of homes, is it actually legal in Singapore? 

 

You Need Permission to Install a CCTV Camera

According to the Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015, “an individual who resides in a place of residence must not cause unreasonable interference with their neighbour’s enjoyment or use of their place of residence, which includes surveillance of the neighbours or their place of residence.” 

The Act also states that your neighbours can bring civil proceedings in a court against you for violating the rules.

Depending on your type of residence, and the direction of the camera(s), you may need approval from the authorities to install video surveillance devices, whether within or outside of your home.

Installing a CCTV Camera Inside Your Home

You can install CCTV camera(s) in your home without requiring approval from the authorities. However, if the cameras are facing the common areas or intrude on the privacy of your neighbours (e.g. recording their movements), then the authorities may ask you to remove the camera(s).  

 

Installing a CCTV Camera Outside Your Home

For HDB Properties

If you live in an HDB property and want to install CCTV cameras outside your home, you must get special approval from your town council or HDB. 

That’s because the town council by-laws regulate the common areas of HDB flats, meaning you have to get your town council’s permission if you want to install or fix something in the common area and corridors, which includes CCTV cameras. If you don’t have the authorisation to do so, you may face a penalty of $5,000. 

However, your town council will only give their approval if your request is supported by a police report. Furthermore, the CCTV camera must not face the door or window of your neighbour, and the installation is only allowed for six months. Once the period expires, you have to resubmit your request or the CCTV camera has to be removed.   

For Private Condominium and Strata Properties

The installation of CCTV cameras may have to comply with your Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) rules and the by-laws of your estate. 

For Landed Properties

If you live in a landed property, you essentially own the land and can install CCTV cameras without any approval from the authorities (however, you must not violate their privacy and record their actions).

What You Should Know Before Installing CCTV Cameras

Remember that CCTV camera installations are illegal if they’re not authorised by the authorities. 

If you live in an HDB flat, you first need to make a police report concerning the crime of your neighbour, before you can get approval from your town council. The CCTV camera must also not intrude on the privacy of your neighbour. 

For strata homes, you may need to get authorisation from your MCST or the by-laws of your estate. 

Also, you should consider your neighbour’s privacy and comfort when installing CCTV cameras; if your neighbour feels like you’re intruding into his/her privacy, then they can lodge a complaint under the Community Disputes Resolution Act (CDRA), invite you for mediation or even file a complaint to your town council. If found guilty, you may need to take down/change the position of the camera, or compensate your neighbour up to $20,000. 

Also, remember that once you’ve gotten approval from your town council to install a CCTV camera, you can only install it for up to six months and have to be taken down after that (unless you apply for another approval). Failure to comply will result in a fine of $5,000. 

Other FAQs Related to CCTV Camera:

1. What Does CCTV Mean?

Closed-circuit television, or CCTV camera is a video surveillance device that’s commonly used to deter and detect crime, such as vandalism and harassment. It is also used to help to improve security and safety. 

2. Can My Neighbour Point CCTV at My House?

Under the Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015, your neighbour can’t survey you and your home. If you feel uncomfortable with your neighbour recording your actions, you may file a complaint with your town council, Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal, or go for mediation.

3. Can I Install CCTV cameras on My Property?

If you install a CCTV camera inside your home, you don’t need any permission, however, you must ensure that the camera doesn’t record the common areas or intrude on the privacy of your neighbour. If you’re installing it outside of your home, you need permission from the authorities. 

 

For more property news, content and resources, check out PropertyGuru’s guides section. 

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Take-up rate across all unit types was strong, with the selling price working out to around $1,800 to $2,250 per sq ft (psf).