The New Territories West Joint Office (JO) received a water seepage complaint from a flat of a housing estate in Kwai Tsing district. The complainant stated that his/her flat had been plagued by prolonged water seepage from the bathroom ceiling, which had not been completely resolved for years. There were even spalling of concrete and exposure of reinforcing bars, significantly affecting daily life.
After contacting the complainant, the JO staff promptly initiated an investigation, including moisture content monitoring and co-ordination with the flat upstairs to arrange for colour water test(s). It was identified that the source of water seepage was the defective floor drain in the shower compartment of the bathroom upstairs.
Subsequently, the JO issued a Nuisance Notice (the Notice) to the owner upstairs pursuant to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132, requiring the abatement of the nuisance within a specified period by carrying out the repair works. Upon confirming that the owner had received the notice, the JO staff patiently explained the investigation result and the legal responsibility to the owner, who also understood it was his/her duty to properly repair and maintain his/her flat. Eventually, the owner was impelled to shoulder the maintenance responsibility and properly restore the facility. The problem of water seepage was satisfactorily resolved, which not only alleviated the complainant’s long-standing distress but also helped maintain good neighbourly relations.
With the issue settled, the complainant thanked the JO through the 1823 hotline, commending the professionalism and proactiveness of the JO staff. Thanks to the patience of the JO staff in explaining the details during the investigation, the complainant had been able to obtain a clear understanding of the case progress and was grateful for their help and efforts. The JO sincerely thanked the public for their recognition and support and would continue to provide quality services to the public in a professional, earnest and responsible manner in the future.