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Neighbour disputes: What if you, in fact, are the nuisance?

Early communication, while there’s still goodwill, is key.

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ST20250923_202596400993 Kua Chee Siong/ pixgeneric/ Generic pix of HDB housing in Toa Payoh on Sep 23, 2025, for the Parliament debate on lease decay for ageing HDB flats. The Government will focus its efforts on the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers), with the aim of rolling it out to a few sites in the first half of the 2030s. Vers will let home owners of selected precincts that are aged about 70 and up choose if they want their homes to be acquired by the Government for redevelopment before their leases run out. Can be used for stories on HDB, resale housing, housing market, property prices, property cooling measures, electricity tariff rates, power usage, utilities, u-save rebates.

People perceived as annoying or inconsiderate are often the least likely to see themselves that way.

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Annabelle Chow

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The first time I realised my neighbour might have found me a nuisance was when she stormed into my home uninvited, shouting at my carpenters when approved works were taking place.

She was clearly angry. There was no earlier attempt to ring the doorbell, clarify or de-escalate. Prior to this, we had a short-lived cordial relationship.

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