My HDB neighbor blocks the common corridor. What enforcement actions are available?

What the Law Says

Under Section 37 of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA), every owner must not obstruct or interfere with the use of common property—including corridors, staircases, and lift lobbies—by other owners or occupiers. Such obstruction constitutes a breach of statutory duty and also violates Clause 12 of the standard HDB Lease Agreement, which prohibits unauthorised alterations or encroachments on common areas. The Housing and Development Act (Cap. 129), Section 48 empowers HDB to enforce lease conditions and take action against breaches, including issuing remedial notices and, in persistent cases, initiating legal proceedings for injunction or fines. Importantly, common corridors are legally defined as part of the 'common property' vested in the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST), and individual owners hold no possessory rights over them.

Practical Steps

Begin by documenting the obstruction (photos, timestamps, witness statements) and politely requesting your neighbour to remove it in writing. If unsuccessful, lodge a formal complaint via HDB’s e-Service portal (‘Report Maintenance Issue’) or call HDB’s Customer Service Centre—HDB will inspect and, if substantiated, issue a Notice to Comply under Section 48 of the HDB Act. Should the neighbour fail to act within the stipulated timeframe (typically 14 days), HDB may impose fines up to S$5,000 per offence or initiate prosecution. Alternatively, as an affected owner, you may file an application directly with the Strata Titles Boards (STB) under Section 37(3) BMSMA seeking a compliance order; the STB process is faster and lower-cost than court. For urgent cases involving safety hazards (e.g., fire exit blockage), contact SCDF immediately—the Fire Safety Act (Cap. 109A) mandates unobstructed escape routes.

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