Looking for help and advise, sorry for the lengthy post.
We are living in a type 4A HDB, built around the 80's (we bought resale flat, renovated 100% before moving in about 10 years back).
Few days back, my neighbour complaint about water seepage on their master bedroom toilet, brownish water near the main waste pipe (PVC) and some patches about 20-30 cm around that. This leak started about 2-3 months back. There is also some liquid flowing down from the side of the pipe from the ceiling (seems sipping from the edges between pipe and concrete). For the background, the whole estate is undergoing major HDB's HIP (Home Improvement Programme) and she had her HIP done on her flat about a year back. Her toilets was part of the upgrading (standard HIP package i.e. toilet bowl & basin change, retiling etc including ceiling spalling concrete repair in toilet). We opt out of the HIP due to full reno done before we moved in, and as we opted out, water leak test was done prior to that in order for HDB to approve that (standard HDB procedure complied). In our toilet, the area near the main waste pipe is raised, and the major part of our toilet floor where the leak is seen below is always dry (toilet bowl (WC), basin etc); The only wet area is the shower area. My neighbour had came to see our toilet for themselves and was puzzled too. There was no complaint of such leak prior to the HIP.
I recalled that in case of any renovation done on the HDB flat within a certain time (say 1 / 2 years??), the owner of that flat which done the recent reno had been done, shall be responsible for any repair done for example such as above?
I suggested to my neighbour that since the HIP contractor had done the works just recently and for the reasons above (leak test done on our toilet, no prior leak nor complaints of water leakage before the HIP), she should pursue the issue with the HIP contractor. But it appears that the HIP contractor, who is still around in our estate, suggested that the repair should be made from our side to our toilet. I have told my neighbour that I would not entertain the HIP contractor if they would to tell me to do the repair from my side.
Would it be better for her to complain directly to HDB as I am assuming that eventually HDB will force the HIP contractor to repair on their side under warranty from the programme?
As my toilet floor at that corresponding affected area is always dry, I really cannot find a reason what kind of repair we should do on our end, not to mention the hassle of going through the hacking, waterproofing and retiling of our toilet. And it appears that the leak could be from the main PVC pipe and water starting to seep through the concrete (losened during the HIP of my neighbour), and therefore wouldnt help even if repair is done from our side?
I read in another old post here that one way to resolve is to grind off the ceiling surface of the affected area, wash and paint Xypex, and then repaint.
Any suggestions would be much appreciate.
cheers,
rodeo
