SINGAPORE: A resident of Yishun Ring Road took to social media to complain about the main door of his flat, which had been changed under the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Home Improvement Programme (HIP). Though the programme was completed only last month (September 2023), his door is already sagging.
Mr Desmond Ding Nai Rong wrote on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Saturday evening (Oct 28) that he had changed the main door and gate of his home under the HIP. However, it is already giving him problems.
“Recently the main door started sagging, and it got worse over days, now it is rubbing against the floor,” he wrote, adding, “We are worried that one day it will get worse and not able to open or close and we will be stuck in the house. It also pose a danger should any situation occurs.”
He has tried calling the HDB HIP defects resolution number, which was given in a memo, a number of times, but it was all in vain. He wrote that “the call gets through but there is no one answer or mending the phone. Neither does it has a voicemail to leave message.”
Mr Desmond posted a screenshot of the memo, which says that residents can call 9001 7436 “for any defect work to be done on your flat”. He added, “We tried calling several times at different time and day, still no answer. To HDB, is this how you treat your work?”
The HIP is aimed at helping residents address common maintenance problems, especially in older flats. “HIP works are carried out in a systematic and comprehensive way to minimise inconvenience to you,” says the HDB. For citizens, improvements are funded or subsidized by the government, but permanent residents are required to pay for the upgrading.
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Mr Desmond Ding Nai Rong, as well as to HDB, for further comments or updates.
Many netizens commented on Mr Desmond’s post, with a few advising him to go to the HIP pop-up office. However, as the memo shows, this office has already closed. And when other commenters suggested that Mr Desmond could visit the next nearest HIP pop-up office, he said that his block is one of the last few blocks in the estate. Others suggested he call the HDB, the Town Council, or even his MP for assistance. /TISG