Home Improvement Programme (HIP)

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he can provide an update on the implementation of HDB's Home Improvement Programme (HIP); (b) in the last five years, what is the number of HDB flats reported to have spalling concrete problems, particularly for HDB flats that were built between 1983 and 1986; and (c) whether HDB would consider accelerating the HIP for precincts with high number of flats that have spalling concrete problems.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lee Yi Shyan) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) was introduced in 2007 to upgrade older HDB flats that were built before 1987 with useful improvements within the flats. These include toilet upgrading, replacing clothes-hanging pipe sockets and addressing the maintenance problems such as spalling concrete. So far, 300,000 flats were identified to be eligible for HIP, and this number is about one-third of all the total flats in Singapore. Fifty thousand flats have been selected for the HIP so far and of these, works have been completed for 5,800 flats. HIP for the remaining 250,000 flats will be implemented over the next 10 years.

We are accelerating the HIP implementation. Over the next five years, we aim to cover 160,000 flats out of the 250,000 flats.

As for the problem of spalling concrete, there were 8,300 cases reported annually. This means an average incidence rate of less than 1% per year. For older flats built between 1983 and 1986, the corresponding incidence rate averaged 2% per annum. In other words, the older flats tend to have higher incidence rate of spalling concrete. The higher incidence is not surprising as spalling concrete is a result of natural wear and tear as buildings age.

Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their homes, including repairs to spalling concrete. Nevertheless, where spalling concrete occurs as a result of a ceiling leakage, HDB has a Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme to help the affected units to co-pay the repair cost.

Mr Ang Wei Neng: I thank the Minister of State for the reply. During the house visits, I had residents who said that they were very grateful that HDB had co-paid the repair of the spalling concrete through the co-paying scheme. But many of them have said that the problem actually reoccurs after three to five years. So, the question is: under the HIP Programme, does HDB use a different kind of techniques to make it more lasting?

The second supplementary question is this. Different precincts, even within the Jurong Central, which is my ward, have different incidence of spalling concrete. In certain precincts, although the flats are of the same age, it appears to have more cases of spalling concrete. So for such precincts that have a higher number of spalling concrete cases as compared to other precincts, will HDB consider initiating a comprehensive check on these precincts if these precincts are not included in the HIP list for the next five years?

Mr Lee Yi Shyan: I thank Mr Ang for his two supplementary questions. First of all, it may be useful to understand a little bit more about how spalling concrete happens. Spalling concrete happens when the carbon dioxide in the air gets infused into the concrete of the building, and concrete by nature is alkaline. For those of us who studied chemistry, we would know that carbon dioxide is slightly acidic. So when it neutralises the alkalinity of the concrete, the steel bar inside the concrete will have a higher chance to rust. Therefore, when it rusts, it expands. When it expands, it causes stress onto the concrete and some of those concrete may as a result fall.

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So, it is important for flat owners, whether in a private flat or in an HDB flat, to take constant action to repaint their house because paint is a form of sealant, or to repair cracks as and when they happen. This will retard the onset of carbonation and spalling concrete. Given that this is a fact, we just need to pay attention to cracks and the leakage in the ceiling.

I will encourage Mr Ang to get in touch with HDB to make full use of the Goodwill Repair Assistance programme for those flats that seem to have higher incidence rates. The HIP Programme is however not just to address spalling concrete issues, it is also a systematic programme to replace water pipes and waste pipes in the flat itself. Spalling concrete is one important factor. But, generally speaking, the age of the flat is the other very important factor where we would decide how to allocate flats or precincts for HIP Programme.

The other question that Mr Ang had was about improvements in techniques and materials used for subsequent building of the new flats. It is true that in recent years, improvement has been made in terms of the kind of material that is being developed as part of the mixer to the concrete as well as the way to build it. So for newer flats, we expect them to have lesser problems in terms of spalling concrete. In fact, for flats that are built after year 2005, HDB has introduced a 10-year warranty for such flats against spalling concrete.

Mr David Ong (Jurong): How does the Ministry prioritise flats for the HIP? At Bukit Batok, we have a lot of old flats. So for our residents to wait 10 years is quite a daunting thought.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan: Yes, I would like to thank the Member for this supplementary question. I think it generally reflects the sentiments of many MPs. It is true that each of us wishes that the HIP can cover more flats in our own precincts. But at the macro scale, we are covering about 300,000 flats, which is one-third of all the HDB flats that were built on this island. Budget is definitely a consideration. That notwithstanding, I think we are increasing our budget for the HIP over the next three years by a quantum of about 20%. However, industry capacity is also another problem. As we ramp up flat construction, and our construction industry is still doing very well, whether we have enough contractors that are able to carry out the work is another bottleneck. Sir, I think we would implement HIP as fast as we can, as fast as the industry can absorb, and benefit as many households as possible.

Mrs Lina Chiam (Non-Constituency Member): Thank you, Sir. I would like to ask, will the Minister of State consider prioritising the flats at Lorong Toa Payoh for HIP since they are over 35 years old now. And I think it is very important because there were lots of problems when Mr Chiam was an MP for Potong Pasir.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan: Sir, the HIP programme is designed for flats built before 1987, so many of those flats before that would be eligible. However, we still need a system of prioritising across the island and I can understand Mrs Chiam's anxiety. My own constituency's flats in Bedok were built in 1977 and 1978. Many of them have the need for repair. So, we will just have to be fair, to spread HIP throughout the island.

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