{"id":80369,"date":"2026-08-29T03:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T19:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80369"},"modified":"2026-08-29T03:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T19:42:00","slug":"spore-expands-neighbour-dispute-unit-for-noise-and-hoarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=80369","title":{"rendered":"S’pore expands neighbour dispute unit for noise and hoarding"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 A government unit that tackles severe noise and hoarding issues will be expanded nationwide from Sept 1, following a trial in Tampines.<\/p>\n

More neighbour disputes could also be referred for compulsory mediation, as the powers that allow public officers to issue such directives get a similar boost.<\/p>\n

These changes will apply for neighbour disputes in both public and private housing estates.<\/p>\n

The Community Relations Unit (CRU)<\/span><\/a>, which comprises officers with the power to investigate such cases and take enforcement action where needed, has been piloted in Tampines HDB estates since April 2025.<\/p>\n

As part of the trial, officers from the Housing Board were also able to require disputing parties to attend mandatory mediation sessions.<\/p>\n

Three ministries \u2013 the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and Ministry of National Development (MND) \u2013 said in a joint statement on Aug 28 that the scheme\u2019s expansion will mean that neighbour disputes can be referred for mediation at an earlier stage.<\/p>\n

CRU officers can take statements from neighbours, and, with the resident\u2019s consent, install noise sensors in homes to collect evidence.<\/p>\n

When investigations are complete, officers can issue advisories or warnings, which do not carry penalties. If the warnings are not heeded, the officers can issue an abatement order.<\/p>\n

As a last resort, the CRU can refer the most severe nuisance-makers to HDB to consider the compulsory acquisition of their flats.<\/p>\n

From Sept 1, a person can also be ordered by the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) to go for a mental health assessment or treatment if they have previously refused to do so, and there is reason to believe they suffer from a mental health condition that contributes to the disamenities caused to their neighbours.<\/p>\n

CDRTs are specialised courts that handle persistent disputes between neighbours after other resolution attempts, such as mediation, fail.<\/p>\n

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There were 299 CDRT claims filed between April 2025 and July 2026, 85 per cent of which were noise-related.<\/p>\n

About half the claims were resolved amicably, while the remaining cases have been ruled on, had orders made or are still pending in court.<\/p>\n

As at July 31, the CDRT has made three exclusion orders to temporarily evict residents from their homes.<\/p>\n

The ministries said that if disputing neighbours reach a settlement during mediation, the agreement can be registered as a CDRT order, if all parties consent.<\/p>\n

This allows for quicker enforcement \u2013 if a party does not comply with the order, the other can apply to enforce it.<\/p>\n

CRU\u2019s Tampines pilot<\/h2>\n

The CRU handled nine noise dispute cases during its Tampines pilot, the ministries said. There were no cases involving hoarding.<\/p>\n

Four of the nine involved people with mental health issues. In these cases, the CRU worked with agencies such as the Institute of Mental Health and Family Service Centres to facilitate assessment and treatment.<\/p>\n

A fifth case involved the deliberate use of noise to disturb neighbours. It stopped after intervention by officers from CRU and other agencies.<\/p>\n

Noise sensors were used in one of these cases.<\/p>\n

In the remaining four cases, investigations found no evidence of severe noise and the parties were directed to other avenues to resolve their disputes, the ministries said.<\/p>\n

In one case, CRU directed both parties to attend mediation and they reached a settlement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese cases were still useful for CRU and front-line agencies\u2019 learning, on how to better triage cases for severity going forward,\u201d MinLaw and MND said.<\/p>\n

From April 2025 to July 2026, there were 124 neighbour disputes registered for voluntary mediation in Tampines, of which 87 were noise-related.<\/p>\n

The authorities said that the CRU will target the small number of severe cases that cannot be resolved through mediation or the CDRT. Such cases typically involve excessive and prolonged noise disturbance that causes significant distress to multiple residents, they added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CRU is not a substitute for strong community norms, good neighbourly relations and early dispute resolution. The Government will continue to encourage neighbours to resolve disputes early and amicably, including through community mediation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about hoarding issues, MinLaw and MND said there was no severe hoarding case in the pilot where a forced declutter could be exercised.<\/p>\n

In such an instance, neighbours can file a case at the CDRT, which can order the hoarder to declutter his unit.<\/p>\n