Another reader’s experience dealing with unfriendly
foreign neighbors
http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/02/14/another-readers-experience-dealing-with-unfriendly-foreign-neighbors/
Since I went through the same hell – hope my experience might be
of some help. Except in my case the ar**hole was a Malaysian
Chinese working for a big accounting firm.
First, the SPF is the most useless lot. Never ever rely on them
for anything. When this Malaysian Chinese neighbor first came down
and picked a fight with us, the entire neighborhood came to break
it up. The police, however, only turned up 3 hours later– and that
was after several phone calls, even then they went to the wrong
unit. But HDB and others will always pass the buck to the police.
Never rely on our police for your protection.
Now, I was told by a reliable source that all rental agreements
had this clause that lessees are obliged to maintain peace and
quiet with the neighbors… which effectively puts the ball in HDB’s
court.
But the problem is, HDB never bothers to give you the time and
usually gives motherhood replies to your letters… all these because
the officer-in-charge, who is usually the technical officer, are
usually overworked and most importantly, are ill-trained to handle
mediation matters. In short, HDB is ill-equipped to handle
this.
Meanwhile, we suffer…. and our sufferings are very real if not
disastrous. As in my case, I was forced to sell and relocate losing
all the facilities and advantages… friends and families
near-by.
In short, the officialdom has yet to recognize the seriousness
of noise pollution in HDB and how badly it affects our daily lives
and our sleep.
Therefore, no point getting our anger against foreigners who are
renting HDB, because anybody who rents will treat their residence
as a convenient condom to use and discard “suka suka” since it’s
not a home to them. That is why a owner occupied unit is mostly
accommodating and seldom wants to make themselves a nuisance to
neighbors, whereas foreigners who rents has nothing to loose. Worst
come to worse he or she just shifts house.
Therefore, your best bet is to deal with HDB only. They are
empowered to tell the owners to get their tenants who are nuisance
out. Pursue your case with HDB with vigor. Move from officer to
officer higher up the hierarchy. Don’t lose your temper with them.
Camp there if you have to. You must make the officialdom realize
you mean business.
Sorry, but you have to go through the baptism of fire.
And one more thing, cc all your emails to the Public Service Div
Quality Mgr, because that would determine their KPI. At least you
would receive reasonable replies and not the usual standard
template motherhood statements.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
I WENT THROUGH THE SAME HELL
* This comment first appeared in TRE’s thread
“British expat “CEO” living upstairs in HDB flat
giving me hell.”