HDB pest problem: Town Council, NEA or private pest control?

A pest problem in an HDB estate can involve your own flat, the common areas, or both. The right contact depends on where the problem is. This guide helps you separate a public-area report from a request for private assessment.

Where is the problem? The first question

HDB explains the distinction between home maintenance and the areas the Town Council manages as common property. The route you take depends on the location:

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Reporting a common-area problem

Through your Town Council

For an issue observed in HDB common property, contact the relevant Town Council through its published channels. Describe what you saw and ask about assessment, responsibility and any arrangements for that location. Do not assume a particular treatment schedule or that an in-flat visit is included.

Through OneService

If you are unsure which agency is responsible, report through the OneService portal on LifeSG. OneService routes your report to the appropriate Town Council or government agency based on the location and description you provide (NEA contact page). LifeSG says you can track the status of your reported issue in the LifeSG app inbox.

Report only what you can safely observe. Do not enter risers, open service ducts or electrical cabinets, or open shared chute installations to investigate. Provide as much detail as you can: the block and floor, the exact location (corridor, bin centre, chute recess), dates and times, what you observed and whether the activity is repeated. Photographs help.

What to include in a report

Copy and adapt this template when reporting to the Town Council or through OneService:

Block and floor: [fill in]
Exact location: [corridor / void deck / bin centre / chute recess / lift lobby]
What you observed: [type of pest / droppings / nesting / damage]
Dates and times: [when first noticed, how often, time of day]
Repeated activity: [yes / no / unsure]
Photos: [attached / not available]
Previous report reference: [if any]
Your contact: [name and phone number]

This template is an illustrative guide to help you organise your report. It is not an official government form or a substitute for the Town Council's or OneService's own reporting channels.

Arranging private pest control for your flat

For a private assessment inside your flat, contact a provider and agree the scope, price and payment arrangements with the relevant parties before booking. For rented homes, responsibilities depend on the agreement and circumstances; see the rental pest responsibility guide. A public-area report does not settle who pays for a private visit.

For vector pest control, check the NEA register of Vector Control Operators. An entry verifies that the business appears in the dated register. It is not a government recommendation, a mould-remediation certification or confirmation that every service you need is included. Confirm the proposed work with the provider.

What to tell the pest control company

A useful quote request includes:

Property type: [HDB / condo / landed]
Floor and unit: [fill in]
Rooms affected: [kitchen / bedroom / bathroom / all]
What you see: [live insects / droppings / damage / nesting]
How long: [first noticed / recurring since]
What you have tried: [sprays / traps / nothing yet]
Shared-area issue: [yes, reported to TC / no / unsure]
Photos: [attached / not available]

This helps the assessor prepare for the visit and quote an appropriate scope.

When you have observations in both locations

If you have evidence inside your flat and in a common area, you can make a public-area report while asking a private provider about your unit. Keep the locations and observations separate. Similar sightings in two places do not establish the source, the direction of movement or that both locations need the same treatment.

The cockroaches from the HDB rubbish chute guide covers the specific checks and contacts for chute-related cockroach problems.

What these routes do not include

• Reporting a common-area problem does not establish that treatment inside your flat is included or free. Ask the relevant body about arrangements for your location.
• OneService helps route neighbourhood reports. This guide promises no response time or particular treatment outcome.
• A private quotation should specify the areas and permissions covered. Do not assume an in-unit provider has authority to enter or treat common-property installations.
• Confirm payment arrangements before authorising private work. This guide does not determine a resident's, landlord's or managing body's legal liability.

Original guide by Four Solutions. Public reporting routes checked against HDB, NEA and LifeSG, October 2026. Agency responsibilities and treatment arrangements may change; check with the relevant body for current procedures. This guide is not legal advice on liability or payment responsibility.

HDB pest reporting FAQs