Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on Home Improvement Programme plans for Nee Soon GRC
Jan 9, 2017
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: To ask the Minister for National Development
(a) what are the upcoming plans for HDB's Home Improvement Programme in Nee Soon GRC; and
(b) whether the programme will include the sealing-off of air-conditioner ducts as the plywood rots after some years.
Answer:
The Home Improvement Programme (HIP) was introduced in 2007 with about 300,000 eligible flats. To date, HIP has been announced for about 220,000 flats. For Nee Soon GRC, there remain about 8,000 HIP-eligible flats. HDB expects to complete the selection of the remaining HIP-eligible flats by FY2018. The next nomination exercise to select blocks to undergo HIP is scheduled to take place in early FY2017.
With regard to the air-conditioner ducts, these are timber panels provided in older HDB blocks to facilitate installation of air-conditioners. There are currently no plans to include the repair of these panels under the HIP’s scope of works. As these fall under common property, residents can approach the respective Town Councils for help in replacing decayed panels, or make their own arrangements to seal up these panels.