LESSONS FOR Home DAMAGES
Homes are one of the most important financial commitments in a person’s career. The Singapore Academy of Law Building and Construction Sub-Commission recently wrote a strategy paper suggesting legislative changes in relation to personal personal estate problems in light of the increasing number of housing developments in land-dense Singapore.
It recommends the issuance of a guarantee that holds designers and the principal specialist accountable for house defects in the first and second homes. These include architectural cracks, fireplace safety defects and weak waterproofing.
The people with “deeper hands” would then be held accountable for errors made by the parties they had engaged to carry out the functions.
Another suggestion is to extend the time period for a homeowner to file a claim against the company. The project’s completion time is typically six decades from the project’s completion.
The Sub-Commission recommends extending the limitation period for big problems to 15 years while retaining the six-year limitation period for problems in terms of quality and craftsmanship.
Ultimately, it is suggested in general that compulsory insurance be introduced to cover all costs incurred by flaws after the works are finished, including work performed by sub-contractors.
Does the broad reform proposals remain considered or not? It’s still to be seen if they are implemented. However, if implemented, they will give people the ability to file legal claims for difficult and expensive problems like water leaks.
Looi Ming Ming and Paul Sandosham are Eldan Law LLP partners, and Looi Ming Ming is a companion at Clifford Chance Asia.