Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on complaints of disamenities caused by littering, smoking and excessive noise and smells and cases resolved via mediation

Nov 2, 2020

Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) in the last three years, what is the number of complaints on disamenities caused by neighbours such as high-rise littering, excessive noise or smells, and smoking; (b) what is (i) the percentage of cases that refuse mediation (ii) the number of repeated cases after "successful" mediation and (iii) the average time taken from mediation application to resolution of the case; and (c) whether there are plans to further enforce and control disamenities caused by residents and encourage neighbourliness.

Answer:

From 2017 to 2019, HDB received an average of about 4,400 cases of feedback relating to social disamenities each year. Most of the feedback related to noise generated in neighbouring flats from activities such as furniture being moved, items being dropped on the floor, and children playing or jumping. 
 
For the same time period, an average of 735 cases per year were registered at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC).  Typically, about 70% of such registered neighbour dispute cases did not progress to mediation, mainly because one or both parties declined mediation or did not respond to the invitation to mediate. In some cases, the parties involved may have decided to resolve matters between themselves. 

Of the remaining 30% of cases that progressed to mediation, the settlement rate has consistently reached 80% or more, or about 186 cases per year on average, in the past three years. Of these cases, 27%, or around 50 cases each year on average, subsequently sought further mediation.  The average time taken from registration to the settlement of CMC cases is 29 days.
 
It is not possible to maintain a harmonious and peaceful living environment without mutual respect and consideration among neighbours. When disputes occur, they are often best resolved by neighbours coming together to understand and address the cause of the friction between them. If the dispute persists, the neighbours will then be advised to seek mediation at the CMC to reach an amicable resolution.

If there is no improvement after mediation attempts, the relevant parties will be advised to file a case at the Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal as a last resort. 

The Government reviews the framework for managing disputes from time to time, and will continue to refine this framework to better deal with neighbour disputes arising from disamenities.