What buyers need to know when inspecting for defects in new developments.
Buying a new home is considered one of the biggest investments you could make in your lifetime, therefore it is important to ensure that the property that was sold to you is in mint condition.
This is especially true for newly constructed HDB flats as the housing board provides a one-year defects liability period (DLP) effective from the date of sale. This means the agency will shoulder the cost of repairing the defects you’ve reported, but any flaws arising from the flat owner’s usage and renovation works are not covered. As such, it is advisable to report the defect within seven days of receiving your keys or before starting renovation work.
As for private homes, the developer is also obliged to fix any flaws found within the Defects Liability Period (DLP) as long as it’s due to shoddy workmanship or materials, or the property was not built in accordance with the agreed specifications.
Fixing such defects should be borne out of the developer’s own cost within one month of receiving the homeowner’s complaints. If they are not rectified, the homeowner may inform the developer of his intention to hire a third party to correct these defects, along with an estimated cost. However, the owner is required to allow the developer another 14 days to fix the flaws. If this last chance is foregone, the owner can look to hire a contractor to fix the defects and recover the cost from the developer.
Below is a list of some common defects found in newly completed properties and the simple tools needed to detect them. Once a defect is discovered, don’t forget to highlight them with masking tape and markers, then photograph them with a digital camera.
Private homeowners in Singapore looking for professional help to fix property defects can choose to engage the services of home inspection specialists such as Ark Interior, Branoz and Inspect First. The cost of inspecting a home starts at around $300.
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This article was first published in the print version The PropertyGuru News & Views. Download PDF of full print issues or read more stories now! | ||