Dear Ignoranceisbliss, My neighbour is presently rebuilding her terrace house next to mine. I bought my house not knowing she was rebuilding and had a rude shock when we were told immediately once settlement was made. You are right to worry. Please go to BCA website, they have just come up with a booklet on your rights when your neighbour is rebuilding. My house leaked right after they tore down her house. When we approached the contractor, they said that they will see to it. 2 months later, my house was still leaking badly at the boundary wall inside my house, water seeping into my timber flooring. I had no choice but to call BCA. Contractor argued that the preconstruction survey showed that my house was already leaking before the works. Not true, because after I bought it, we spend 200 k renovating the house. Within a month, problem solved. It was due to the exposure of the soil after they tore down the house and no attempt was made by the contractor to prevent water seepage into my house by covering the exposed ground. Debris like big stones, cement pieces, nails. sand....will drop over your side. Initially no netting or hoarding was set up until BCA told them it is a requirement. Now, I still get metal rods, nails, sand and stones.. sometimes big cement pieces. Yes, these can hurt you. The noise is terrible. They will tell it that it is only noisy during the initial piling stage, not true. Its been 9 months already and as I sit here, there are 2-3 drills drilling just next to my side of the wall. It is very loud and you can hardly think with the noise. The workers take liberty to just walk on your roof without informing you, so you have to keep watch. Cement will spill over to your side when they start constructing the beams etc. So make sure your open areas are boarded up securely. And there will be workers living onsite. Please find out and understand your rights. Take pictures, have all in black and white. Piling works will cause damage to your house. The vibration is so bad, my new timber flooring cracked not at the gap but within the wood. However, the contractor said it is due to my wood quality and not their piling. It will take a year or so for them to complete. If you just take the contractor at his word, I assure you there will be disputes eventually. Know what is happening and be one step ahead. Most contractors will not take precautions or be proactive in their approach as far as your property is concern. They will always say, don't worry, we will clean it up or fix it for you later when they should be preventing inconveniences and damage to your property in the first place. Contact me if you require more info. Thanks and good luck. Note: BCA will only assist if there is leakage involved. (If the contractor is experience and careful, this should not happen.) Contact NEA for noise, mosquitoes .. and MOM for workers issues..
