Who pays for popped tiles in my HDB flat?
Flat owners are responsible for maintaining their flats, including wear and tear. MND stated in 2018 that HDB repairs dislodged tiles it originally provided during the 1-year defects liability period and offers goodwill repairs for such tiles for up to 15 years. Beyond 15 years, owners replace tiles themselves, although HDB may help remove and dispose of affected tiles. Tiles you laid during your own renovation are your own responsibility.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Popped, Hollow and Debonded Tiles in Singapore: Causes, Safety, Repair and Who Pays. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Tiles pop or sound hollow when the bond between tile, adhesive and screed fails, usually from thermal movement without movement joints, poor adhesive coverage, an uncured substrate or age. Indoors, the unit owner generally pays after the developer's 12-month defects period. On façades, falling tiles are a public-safety risk handled through the MCST or owner and BCA's Periodic Façade Inspection.
More questions on this topic
- Why do floor tiles suddenly pop up with a loud crack?
- Is a hollow-sounding tile always a defect?
- Who pays for popped tiles in a condominium unit?
- Can the developer refuse to fix popped tiles after the defects liability period?
- Are popped façade tiles covered by the Periodic Façade Inspection?
- Can hollow tiles be fixed without removing them?
- How do I stop new tiles from popping?