HDB FLATS (Storing of rubbish/garbage)

HDB FLATS

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(Storing of rubbish/garbage): **

28.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for National Development if the Ministry or Town Council keeps track of Housing Development Board tenants who keep rubbish or garbage in or outside their flats, consequently posing as a potential fire hazard to themselves and their neighbours and, if so, (i) what is the number; and (ii) what is the Ministry doing about these potential fire hazards.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: HDB and the Town Councils carry out regular inspections to ensure that all HDB residents, including rental tenants, do not indiscriminately place rubbish or garbage which can become potential fire hazards, within their flats or at the common areas. They also act on feedback from other residents.

Besides routine inspections and public feedback, HDB also carries out annual inspections of its rental flats and advises tenants to refrain from storing rubbish and unwanted items in their flats. If such cases are detected, HDB Branch Offices will conduct subsequent follow up visits to ensure that the items are removed. Similarly, should Town Council staff come across any items placed outside the flats during their inspections, they would advise the residents concerned to remove them. Some Town Councils even offer free removal services for their residents.

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Based on our experience, HDB residents are generally cooperative and comply with the authorities' requests to remove items within their flats that are potential fire hazards and those which obstruct the common corridors. However, if there are recalcitrant residents who refuse to remove the items as requested, HDB can, as a last resort, compulsorily acquire the flat or terminate the tenancy in the case of rental flat. Town Councils can also fine them up to $1,000 for not removing items placed at the common areas despite being asked to do so.

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