HDB resident appeals for help over noise, litter, and pest problems due to continuous partying at the void deck for years

SINGAPORE: One resident said that he has been suffering for years now due to the constant parties at the void deck where he resides. Ever since he moved to Block 22 Hougang Avenue 3 in 2017, the resident had been experiencing this issue wherein altars, portable tables, and chairs were placed at the void deck for people to smoke, drink beer, and throw waste. 

According to the resident, people bring food and beer from a nearby coffee shop to the void deck, and they party almost every night, even if they are not residents of the block. “This dirtying of the void deck has been a daily affair since the early days of 2017, but it has been getting aggressive these few years,” he remarked. 

The resident added that people gather at around 10 a.m. on weekends and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. The gathering used to go beyond 10 p.m. 

“There is a lot of rubbish and waste such as beer bottles, food and cigarette butts thrown around… Mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, and lizards have been running around with all this litter. It poses another danger to the residents here, destroying our lives,” he admitted. 

In his complaint, he also stated that they just painted their block not so long ago, but now it’s back to the original dirty void deck within a few weeks. Additionally, he said that the town council and the National Environment Agency were notified about this issue in 2024, but the situation remains the same. 

“I hope the authorities are able to assist and wipe this out. Residents have been suffering from endless smoking, littering, beer-drinking and talking aloud during late hours.” 

With this, Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) responded to a Stomp query and said: “The town council respectfully seeks the cooperation of residents in being considerate of noise levels – especially during designated quiet hour – and on the importance of not littering to maintain the cleanliness of shared spaces.” 

The Council also expressed that they continue to explore ways to communicate these messages effectively through outreach efforts, and encourages residents to contact the police if any noise disturbances happen late into the night. 

Furthermore, the Housing and Development Board also suggests ways on how to manage neighbour disputes. They encouraged everyone to be reminded of these tips to resolve neighbour conflicts in an effective manner. 

Before the conversation

• Identify the most appropriate time to approach your neighbour. 
• Don’t confront your neighbour when you are angry, as this may upset your neighbour. 
• Work out what you want to say before you speak to your neighbour.

During the conversation

• Don’t lose your temper, as this would make things worse and harder to sort out. 
• Keep calm and be polite while you attempt to talk things through.

Ending the conversation

• Thank your neighbour for his/her time and leave on a friendly note. 
• Wait a few days to see if the problem has been solved.