Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on defects and design flaws of newly-built ECs
Feb 7, 2017
Mr Png Eng Huat: To ask the Minister for National Development
(a) what is the number of feedback and complaints which the Ministry has received from residents of newly-built executive condominiums (ECs) on defects and design flaws in the past five years; and
(b) what is the role of HDB in helping to resolve such matters since ECs are part of the stable of public flats offered by HDB.
Answer:
The Executive Condominium Housing Scheme (ECHS) was introduced in 1995 to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans to own private housing in an affordable way. This is done by imposing on EC buyers certain initial eligibility and ownership restrictions. But after the 10th year, all restrictions are lifted and the EC will be no different from other private condominiums.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) does not track feedback received on ECs. This is because buyers purchase their ECs directly from the private developers, and under the Sale and Purchase (S&P) Agreement signed between the EC developer and home buyers, the EC developer is responsible for all defects during the 12-month Defects Liability Period. The EC developer is also contractually obliged to attend to all feedback from buyers on the design, finishing, workmanship or other concerns pertaining to the development, and respond to the buyers accordingly.