Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for National Development (a) what criteria distinguishes a severe noise dispute qualifying for Community Relations Unit intervention; and (b) given that the one-year pilot in Tampines handled only five severe cases while not deploying noise sensors, what is the Ministry’s assessment of (i) the unit’s efficacy and (ii) whether its enforcement powers are operationally useful.

Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for National Development since the pilot launch of the Community Relations Unit (CRU) in April 2025 (a) how many cases have been resolved or closed by the CRU; and (b) what is the Ministry’s assessment of the effectiveness of the CRU in addressing severe neighbour disputes involving noise and hoarding.

Mr Alvin Tan: Sir, my answer will also address similar questions filed for oral answer by Members Ms Mariam Jaafar, Mr Xie Yao Quan, Mr Foo Cexiang, Dr Charlene Chen1, 2 and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin scheduled for the Sittings on 15, 16 and 17 October, and the questions filed for written answer by Members of Parliament Mr Gerald Giam, Mr Cai Yinzhou and Dr Charlene Chen 3, 4 for the Sittings on 14, 15 and 16 October.

Sir, when neighbours engage in a dispute, our priority is to bring them together to understand each other’s perspectives and needs, and then, also try to find a mutually acceptable solution. It is neither desirable for our community spirit nor sustainable for Government to step in as a first response for all disputes between neighbours.

The Community Relations Unit (CRU) framework strikes a balance between Government stepping in to manage a dispute and leaving enough room for neighbours to settle disputes themselves. It is not a panacea for neighbour disputes and it is not a substitute for a strong foundation of positive community norms, good neighbourly relations and community dispute resolution options.

CRU has a range of investigatory and enforcement powers, including the power to install noise sensors. These noise sensors are used as a confirmatory tool, after CRU's initial investigations narrow down from which unit the noise nuisance might be coming from. In the five cases in the pilot town of Tampines that CRU has investigated since April this year, noise sensors were not required because either the noisemakers gave formal statements that confirmed they were the source of noise, or the source of noise was clear and unambiguous. 

The CRU framework is a useful step forward but its implementation requires significant amounts of resources. Therefore, it is piloted in one town first, Tampines, focusing on severe neighbour noise and hoarding cases. We are reviewing this pilot carefully, to ensure our systems and processes are effective and we have resourced it correctly and sustainably before we extend the CRU services to other towns. 

As Minister Edwin Tong and the Senior Minister of State Sim Ann explained in their Second Reading speeches in November 2024, CRU focuses on severe cases that frontline agencies, like the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Police, triage and escalate to it. These cases represent a small proportion of all disputes between neighbours. They can include cases where one neighbour is deliberately making excessive noise at unreasonable hours and/or over prolonged periods to cause suffering to surrounding neighbours and where prior mediation has not been successful.

Severe cases with a mental health nexus are another example. Of the three mental health-related cases CRU is dealing with, it has facilitated inpatient admission and treatment for one, and more consistent follow-up with the community for the other two. 

The one case involving deliberate use of noise to disturb neighbours and not related to mental health has abated after joint intervention by CRU, the Police and the Town Council. CRU will continue to take on severe cases in Tampines that frontline agencies escalate to it.

As a deterrent and a last resort after exhausting all levers, CRU may refer the most severe and recalcitrant nuisance-makers to HDB, to consider compulsory acquisition of their flats. We will take this course of action only after due care and careful consideration. 

For new Build-To-Order (BTO) developments since February 2023, HDB has increased the thickness of floor slabs to 200 millimetres. This has reduced inter-floor noise transmission by up to five decibels. For existing flats, the scope for major infrastructure changes is limited. Nevertheless, residents can practise simple steps to reduce inter-floor noise. They can for example, place rubber padding or "chair socks" on the legs of furniture. HDB will also continue to explore other possible solutions through research and development. 

Overall, the average monthly volume of neighbour noise feedback in HDB estates, across Singapore, over the past five years has held steady at about 2,500. HDB does not otherwise track the number of disputes between neighbours in HDB flats, or the number of cases that escalated into physical altercations.

Ultimately, we need strong community bonds and strong community norms, so fewer disputes will arise. And where they do arise, parties involved are more likely to resolve their differences in an amicable and mutually acceptable manner, if these norms and practices are strong. This is an outcome worth working towards as a "we first" society.

Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Thank you, Speaker. Thank you to the Minister of State for MND. I understand HDB will consider compulsory acquisition of flats by severe and recalcitrant nuisance makers. The constant distress caused by noise transmission is a root cause of many disputes that escalate, including pickleball. And I am glad to hear that new BTO developments now feature increased floor slab thickness.

To ensure we address the structural root issue, can the Minister of State clarify whether they will commit to immediately implementing a mandatory logging and tracking system, and with which agency, to monitor all dispute cases that are reported to involve threats of physical violence in order to identify and flag these recalcitrant offenders, or even consider providing equipment like industrial grade sound monitoring for rental?

My second question is, given the limited scope for major infrastructure changes in existing flats, will the Ministry consider exploring subsidised soundproofing improvements or technology, as a specific upgrade option under future Home Improvement Programmes for blocks that have high persistent record of noise related disputes?

Mr Alvin Tan: Sir, I thank Mr Cai Yinzhou for his questions. For the first one, on the mandatory logging and tracking system, and then the second one on the subsidised soundproofing. These require, again, resources, as well as careful learning. And I think pilots, even beyond Tampines, we will look into these and then, if relevant or appropriate, we will consider them. 

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Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many deceased flat owners currently owe arrears to Town Councils; (b) what proportion of these cases involve arrears of more than nine months; and (c) what is the total value of such arrears owed by deceased owners.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Ministry of National Development monitors Town Councils' overall arrears rates but does not have data to the level of granularity requested by the Member.  

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Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the specific groups and organisations that the Ministry will engage in the consultation process to determine the final Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) framework; and (b) what specific and unambiguous communication strategy will the Ministry adopt to actively discourage the promotion to prospective buyers on speculatively acquiring older flats for the purpose of future VERS profiteering.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Ministry of National Development and the Housing and Development Board will engage Singaporeans on the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme framework and policy parameters, to take in further views and feedback. We will share more details when ready.

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