The Paper Notice Problem

In Singapore, HDB regulations require residents to inform neighbours before starting renovation work. The traditional method? Printing and distributing paper notices to every household on the same floor—or sometimes, just posting one copy on the ground-floor bulletin board.

But here's the issue: most residents don't check the void deck board daily. And if your neighbor slips a notice under your door, it might end up buried under a pile of junk mail or tossed away before you even read it.

Why Paper Falls Short

1. Delayed or Missed Information: By the time a resident sees a renovation notice—if they see it at all—the drilling may have already started. This creates unnecessary frustration and conflict.

2. Limited Reach: Paper notices are typically distributed only to immediate neighbours (same-floor units). But renovation noise can affect multiple floors, especially in older HDB blocks where sound insulation is poor.

3. No Verification: Anyone can print a paper notice and claim they informed neighbors. But how do you prove it? There's no record, timestamp, or accountability.

4. Environmentally Wasteful: Printing dozens of notices for every renovation project generates unnecessary paper waste—especially when most residents throw them away immediately.

The Digital Solution

A digital notice board organized by postal code solves all these problems. Residents can post renovation notices online, instantly notifying everyone in the same building or estate. Notices are timestamped, searchable, and accessible 24/7 from any device.

Neighbors can check the board before planning their day, reducing surprise disruptions. And because digital notices are archived, they create a transparent record of communication—protecting both renovators and affected residents.

Real-World Impact

Consider a young family with a newborn living two floors below a unit undergoing major renovations. A paper notice slipped under their door on Friday might go unnoticed until Monday—by which time, the drilling has already disrupted the baby's sleep schedule for three days.

With a digital notice board, that same family could have received an instant notification on their phone the moment the notice was posted. They could plan their mornings around the noise, perhaps scheduling naps at a different time or temporarily staying with relatives.

Conclusion

Paper notices are a relic of a slower, less connected era. In 2025, Singapore's residents deserve a faster, more reliable, and eco-friendly way to stay informed about renovation works in their neighborhood. Digital notice boards aren't just more convenient—they're essential for modern community living.