Water Leakage in Entire New HDB Flat - previously vacant for 3 years

Fathor

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Water Leakage in Entire New HDB Flat - previously vacant for 3 years

Just got the keys to an SBF flat from HDB as a first owner a few weeks ago. Completed in 2021, the 2-room flexi flat was vacant for 3 years before I got it in 2024, unusual for a mature estate and near-MRT flat.

PROBLEM. Unusual water issues occurred in the entire flat after the main water supply was turned on.
In a few hours, water (water droplets, moisture, and wet patches) starts to show, and as it accumulates, it becomes quite a fair bit.

Water is found on the (1) floors next to the walls and (2) wall-floor borders - made of tile, concrete or wood.
While the walls seemed unaffected initially, I found some water droplets on a kitchen wall at its lower part - it is an area where a concealed water pipe runs above the ceiling.

<pic: a corner in the store room after 2 days, all corners are wet>
IMG-20241001-WA0000.jpg


ROOMS AFFECTED -

The living room, bedroom, kitchen, store room (bomb shelter), and switchboard room are affected. The most affected rooms are the store room and kitchen, and the less affected floors are by the side of windows. However, the toilet on the inside is not affected.

The above is my observation over 2 days with the water supply being turned on. I am worried that wooden materials will continue to be further affected. Many contractors have told me they have not seen this case of water on the storeroom floor since an aircon downstairs will not be in the storeroom or kitchen.

<pic: blue indicates areas in layout with most water issues after 2 days with water supply turned on>
Layout-Water-Issue.png


The owner downstairs seldom uses the air conditioner.

KEY CONCERNS -
(1) Continuous delay actions,
(2) Nowhere to stay very soon, and
(3) The water issues from a 3-year empty flat that could be arising from "breakdown due to disuse" worries me in the long term. Also, not just an immediate thorough fix is needed but also a proper fix on damages already done because wooden borders and bedroom wooden floor are affected and who knows what else.

What should I do and what are my options? Thank you for your kind help and advice.

There is a one-year warranty, but the 5 and 10-year water leakage warranty started in 2021 instead of 2024 when I got the keys.
 
Last edited:

elvintay07

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Water Leakage in Entire New HDB Flat - previously vacant for 3 years

Just got the keys to an SBF flat from HDB as a first owner a few weeks ago. Completed in 2021, the 2-room flexi flat was vacant for 3 years before I got it in 2024, unusual for a mature estate and near-MRT flat.

PROBLEM. Unusual water issues occurred in the entire flat after the main water supply was turned on.
In a few hours, water (water droplets, moisture, and wet patches) starts to show, and as it accumulates, it becomes quite a fair bit.

Water is found on the (1) floors next to the walls and (2) wall-floor borders - made of tile, concrete or wood.
While the walls seemed unaffected initially, I found some water droplets on a kitchen wall at its lower part - it is an area where a concealed water pipe runs above the ceiling.

<pic: a corner in the store room after 2 days, all corners are wet>
IMG-20241001-WA0000.jpg


ROOMS AFFECTED -

The living room, bedroom, kitchen, store room (bomb shelter), and switchboard room are affected. The most affected rooms are the store room and kitchen, and the less affected floors are by the side of windows. However, the toilet on the inside is not affected.

The above is my observation over 2 days with the water supply being turned on. Recently, HDB told me to keep it turned off until the next inspection date. I assumed that if it is turned on, the wooden materials will continue to be further affected. A renovation contractor told me it is unusual to have water on the storeroom floor since an aircon downstairs will not be in the storeroom or kitchen.

<pic: blue indicates areas in layout with most water issues after 2 days with water supply turned on>
Layout-Water-Issue.png


HDB HANDLING -

HDB Branch estate executive (officer) initially kept saying to check the downstairs aircon unit, delayed actions, ignored the water supply trigger, and delayed engaging an engineer to check. Even the officer himself said he wanted to find out why this happened, implying that it was unusual.

Subsequently, I met the MP and emailed HDB Maintenance Directors, but HDB still delayed response and only scheduled an engineer inspection for a faraway date. HDB ignore my other requests and concerns on accommodation and etc.

KEY CONCERNS -
(1) HDB's continuous delayed actions seemingly want to minimise work,
(2) I have nowhere to stay very soon, and
(3) The water issues from a 3-year empty flat that could be arising from "breakdown due to disuse" worries me in the long term. Also, an immediate proper fix because wooden borders and bedroom wooden floor are affected and who knows what else.

What should I do and what are my options? Thank you for your kind help and advice.

There is a one-year warranty, but the 3 and 5-year water leakage warranty started in 2021 instead of 2024 when I got the keys.
You met member of parliament (MP) for this?
 

elvintay07

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If I were you, I would have written to their CEO. But this is unusual lei. Piping leak ceiling sure got tell tale sign. Only reason can explain if it is on the floor is condensation
 

codemasterguy

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Water Leakage in Entire New HDB Flat - previously vacant for 3 years

Just got the keys to an SBF flat from HDB as a first owner a few weeks ago. Completed in 2021, the 2-room flexi flat was vacant for 3 years before I got it in 2024, unusual for a mature estate and near-MRT flat.

PROBLEM. Unusual water issues occurred in the entire flat after the main water supply was turned on.
In a few hours, water (water droplets, moisture, and wet patches) starts to show, and as it accumulates, it becomes quite a fair bit.

Water is found on the (1) floors next to the walls and (2) wall-floor borders - made of tile, concrete or wood.
While the walls seemed unaffected initially, I found some water droplets on a kitchen wall at its lower part - it is an area where a concealed water pipe runs above the ceiling.

<pic: a corner in the store room after 2 days, all corners are wet>
IMG-20241001-WA0000.jpg


ROOMS AFFECTED -

The living room, bedroom, kitchen, store room (bomb shelter), and switchboard room are affected. The most affected rooms are the store room and kitchen, and the less affected floors are by the side of windows. However, the toilet on the inside is not affected.

The above is my observation over 2 days with the water supply being turned on. Recently, HDB told me to keep it turned off until the next inspection date. I assumed that if it is turned on, the wooden materials will continue to be further affected. A renovation contractor told me it is unusual to have water on the storeroom floor since an aircon downstairs will not be in the storeroom or kitchen.

<pic: blue indicates areas in layout with most water issues after 2 days with water supply turned on>
Layout-Water-Issue.png


HDB HANDLING -

HDB Branch estate executive (officer) initially kept saying to check the downstairs aircon unit, delayed actions, ignored the water supply trigger, and delayed engaging an engineer to check. Even the officer himself said he wanted to find out why this happened, implying that it was unusual.

Subsequently, I met the MP and emailed HDB Maintenance Directors, but HDB still delayed response and only scheduled an engineer inspection for a faraway date. HDB ignore my other requests and concerns on accommodation and etc.

KEY CONCERNS -
(1) HDB's continuous delayed actions seemingly want to minimise work,
(2) I have nowhere to stay very soon, and
(3) The water issues from a 3-year empty flat that could be arising from "breakdown due to disuse" worries me in the long term. Also, an immediate proper fix because wooden borders and bedroom wooden floor are affected and who knows what else.

What should I do and what are my options? Thank you for your kind help and advice.

There is a one-year warranty, but the 5 and 10-year water leakage warranty started in 2021 instead of 2024 when I got the keys.
very strange to have leaking on the store room.
maybe there's super tiny hole on the pipe everywhere, because of old pipe.

My old pipe always leaking here and there, and i ended use new pipe with different routing.
But your problem looks like condensation.
 

Fathor

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very strange to have leaking on the store room.
maybe there's super tiny hole on the pipe everywhere, because of old pipe.

My old pipe always leaking here and there, and i ended use new pipe with different routing.
But your problem looks like condensation.
Possibly condensation, since ceilings remain dry and the only wall with a few droplets is as mentioned, at a lower part of a kitchen wall (8 cm above the ground) where the water pipe runs above the ceiling. Note that all the rooms get some or a lot of it on the floor near the walls (from the side of the wall to as far as 40 cm from the wall) and not all affected areas have pipes hidden above the ceiling.
Layout-water-issue-Main-areas-after-2d-water-supply-on.jpg
 
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Fathor

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If I were you, I would have written to their CEO. But this is unusual lei. Piping leak ceiling sure got tell tale sign. Only reason can explain if it is on the floor is condensation
Yes, ironically, the only test done was a water pipe pressure test to check leakage. Downstairs seldom use aircon.
 

Muthucurry5678

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Off all your water pipe outlet (sink, bidet etc)
Go see your meter and photo taking
Come.back and see 5 mins later if the meter reading have move.
Go take a look at where the riser is (where your meter is), if its near the bomb shelter then most probably that area leak
 

Mecisteus

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Off all your water pipe outlet (sink, bidet etc)
Go see your meter and photo taking
Come.back and see 5 mins later if the meter reading have move.
Go take a look at where the riser is (where your meter is), if its near the bomb shelter then most probably that area leak
Meter should be running slowly when main water supply is ON.

Probably multiple leakages in the internal water piping system for this unit.

@Fathor any other units in the flat experiencing the same issue ?
 
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