Anonymous Visitors

It was a weekday evening. Back from office, I was having a cup of coffee and relaxing on my sofa, when I heard a knock at the door. When I opened the door, a lady was standing with a clip-pad in her hand. She smiled at me.

"Good evening Sir, I am from *** company". She flashed her identity card in front of me. I am still trying to figure out what she was up to.

She did not wait for my response. She continued. "My company is carrying out some repair works to your block. Tomorrow, we are planning to do some patch-up works around the bamboo poles at your unit". She was quick again to add "The repair works are at no cost to the owner. I would like to take a look from inside the unit. Is it convenient?".

Being a civil engineer myself, I was a bit curious to know what they were really doing. So, I asked her "Do you have any letter from HDB?" My intention was to find out the nature of works being carried out. She replied "No Sir, but it is of no cost to the owner".

"Do you have any letter from the town council?". She said "No".

This is when I got puzzled. She immediately shut any further questions from me. "Sir, Is it not convenient for me to take a look from inside the unit?"

I was also straight this time "No, it is not convenient". She thanked me and immediately left the place. In a short while, I could hear her knocking the next door.

As far as I know, I did not get any notification from HDB or the town council about any repair works in the block. Is it possible to carry out repair works at a HDB block in Singapore without the approval of either the HDB, town council or the owner? Can any one enlighten me please?