HDB officers can now enter flats without warrants — only if there's a safety threat

A violation of privacy or a necessary evil? After an amended Bill passed in Parliament yesterday HDB officials are now legally allowed to enter a flat without a court warrant  — if only there's an imminent public health or safety threat.  The most likely situation for them to conduct forcible entry would be when structural walls and columns are demolished, which poses a danger to the structural integrity of the building and the safety of residents, The New Paper reports the Ministry of National Development to say.  This comes after several cases of flat owners and contractors removing essential structural walls during renovation works to their flats, putting their entire block at risk. The rights to conduct forced entry would be practiced especially when the owner or the occupier of the house cannot be contacted or are refused entry.  HDB will also be able to enter flats with a warrant, for urgent repair works such as ceilings. Disputes and complaints about ceiling leakages have formed a major chunk of HDB's concerns, when neighbours persistently refuse to cooperate despite repeated appeals.  Photo: ​Geroithe Chia via Flickr