HDB Defects Tracking List

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Here is our list of HDB Defects Tracking List, will update this periodically.
Last Updated: Aug 25, 2008

1) Gaps, holes, nails and putty stains all over parquet skirting
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have changed our parquet skirting in the living room but used different tones of the parquet skirting timber strips for us.
Aug 12, 2008 - BSC Engineers will re-vanish the inconsistent tone of parquet skirting and try their best to make it less obvious.

Aug 25, 2008 - Nothing was done. Same problem still exist.
Action: Nil (Gave up)

2) Hollow tiles / Hollow parquet
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have replaced the hollow tiles and repaired the hollow parquet but we found more hollow tiles and hollow parquet.
Aug 12, 2008 - BSC Engineers have replaced the hollow tiles and repaired the hollow parquet.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

3) Gaps on floor between parquet and homogenous tiles
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have tried to repair the gaps several times but still not acceptable.
Aug 12, 2008 - We have raised this issue several times and HDB Engineers have promised that the gap between the two area will be straight and consistent, still they did not do a good job.

Aug 25, 2008 - They still did not do a good job. Same problem still exist.
Action: Nil (Gave up)

4) Rusty Screws, hinges, handles and locks on all windows
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have changed all the handles on all windows and cleaned all the rusty screws and hinges
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

5) Rubber gasket caved in for most windows
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers claimed that they have rectified it but it still look the same to us, thus not acceptable.
Aug 12, 2008 - BSC Engineers have changed the rubber gasket to a new one.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

6) Rusty shower accessories
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers claimed that they have cleaned it but it still look the same to us, thus not acceptable.
Aug 12, 2008 - We have raised this issue several times but even after rectification, it still look the same to us. We gave up on this since it is not a big issue.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

7)Paints on switches
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have removed most of the paints on switches, resulting in scratches on switches. They have replaced all the switches but damaged the wall around it resulting in gaps and holes which is not acceptable.
Aug 12, 2008 - All paints have been removed and damaged wall are rectified.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

8) Scratches and dents on door
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have repaired the scratches and dents by filling them with putty but still not acceptable.
Aug 12, 2008 - We have raised this issue several times and requested for a re-varnish but they refused to do so saying it is okay. We gave up on this since it is not a big issue.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

9) Dull, uneven and lackluster parquet flooring
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers will only re-varnish after we confirmed that there is no more hollow parquet flooring.
Aug 12, 2008 - BSC Engineers have re-varnished the parquet flooring.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

10) Insufficient Grout, gaps and stains on homogenous tiles
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have re-do the grouting in the living room but it was sloppily done thus not acceptable. They will do a final washing after all the defects are rectified, only then we will check the grouting again.
Aug 12, 2008 - BSC Engineers have re-do the grouting again, but the grouting still came off easily when we use our fingers to touch it.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

11) Stains on bay windows due to protective sheet
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have cleaned it.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

12) Faulty windows
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have replaced the faulty windows.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

13) Bomb shelter Rubber door seal old and flaking
May 25, 2008 - BSC have replaced it with a new rubber door seal
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

14) Switch difficult to press
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have changed all the switches affected.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

15) Rusty screws and different screw sizes used for the door hinges
May 25, 2008 - BSC Engineers have changed the screws.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

16) Holes on wall
May 25, 2008 - BSC have repaired them.
Action: Nil (Case Closed)

We have submitted HDB defects list since 17-Mar-08 and till to date, they are still rectifying the defects. In fact, most of our precious time was spent on negotiating with HDB/BSC to fix defects which both claimed is not a defect in the first place!

Well, Premium flat comes with premium problems and we paid a premium price for it! Given a choice, we would definitely not purchase premium flats in future. Our flat was built more than 6 years ago and left vacant, so it is unavoidable to have problems like rust, stains and some wear and tear. But on top of all these, the biggest problem which we are facing is poor workmanship. We thought HDB should follow standards based on BCA but was shocked to know that the so-called standards were just some guidelines and HDB need not to follow! Duh!

We arranged for a joint inspection with the Building Service Centre(BSC) engineers days after we submitted the defects. They claimed that they do not work on Saturday which is obviously a lie, but still we took half a day leave to meet them on a weekday. Throughout the joint inspection, minor defects they are willing to rectify, but when it comes to major ones which required a change of material, they insisted is normal. The whole joint inspection was basically a session to convince us that each and every defect is normal. It was a complete waste of our time.

Ever since the joint inspection, we refused to liaise directly with the BSC engineer and instead, liaise directly with our HDB officer, Jamie. Initially she was very helpful and even took the initiative to update us on the rectifications. After few weeks, she seemed to give up and start to 'bo chap' us. She then kept on pestering us to have a joint inspection with BSC engineers each time we submitted a new defect list. (Now she told us BSC/HDB do work on Saturday) But we outright refused. However, we do understand that she was placed in a difficult position, stuck in between us and BSC engineers ... but well, that is her job, isn't it?

Most of the parquet skirting timber strips at the living room were badly damaged and gaps, holes, nails and putty stains can be seen very clearly. The same appeared for the 3 bedrooms but not as bad as the living room. During the joint inspection, BSC engineer told us is normal! When Jamie went down to take a look personally, she got the cheek to tell us she agreed that the parquet skirting was quite bad but she couldn't request BSC to change immediately. She told us that BSC engineer mentioned that all these could be rectified, which we really doubt so. Well, so what if they managed to cover up, the parquet skirting timber strip was already badly damaged. The best part was, BSC used the glossy type of stain to varnish the skirting and it looked so horrible after that. In the end, they got no choice, but to change all our parquet skirting timber strips in the living room. Problems weren't solved, the workmanship is still as bad and they purposely choose different tones of the parquet skirting timber strips for us, and the tone is not at all consistent and they insisted that this is normal because wood colour is natural. When we asked for an explanation on the bad workmanship, Jamie's reply was "it is already better than the previous one."

Our parquet flooring is dull, uneven and lackluster. We read from forums that most of them got their flooring re-varnished, and some said this is a must if there are hollow parquet flooring to be repaired. But during the joint inspection, BSC engineer just refused to do it for us saying all are in good condition. After voicing out our concern to Jamie, She then agreed to re-varnish. Same issue for hollow tiles, BSC engineer refused to change some of the hollow tiles, saying it is not as hollow but Jamie agreed to replace those for us.

If they have agreed to rectify at the very beginning, the rectification process wouldn’t have dragged so long.


Dull, uneven and lackluster parquet flooring


Gaps, holes, nails and putty stains all over parquet skirting.





Rusty Screws, hinges, handles and locks on all windows


Rubber lining caved in


Scratches and dents on door


Uneven joint between wall and tiles


Scratches on switches


Screws not tightened properly