Granddaughter Alarmed After Grandma's Room Turns Hazardously Slippery Due to Neighbor’s Aircon in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A woman voiced her concerns on social media after discovering that her 88-year-old grandmother's room became "dangerously slippery" as a result of the air conditioning unit from the neighboring apartment downstairs.

The granddaughter shared her frustrations in a post on Reddit's "Ask Singapore" forum, explaining that her grandmother resides in an aging HDB (Housing and Development Board) flat, which has seen various tenants move in and out over the years. This year, however, the new tenants seem to have an overly aggressive approach to air conditioning, leading to excessive condensation that creates a perilously wet floor in her grandmother's room—a problem that had never arisen in the decades her grandmother has lived there.

"My grandma has limited mobility and really struggles to walk short distances," she lamented. "Just picture her getting out of bed and slipping on a wet floor—she could seriously injure herself."

Attempts to address the problem have so far been unsuccessful. The granddaughter mentioned that her aunt tried to approach the neighbors to discuss the issue, but they were not home. Another relative filed a complaint with the HDB, which reportedly said it would reach out to the downstairs neighbors.

In a bid to foster goodwill and resolve the issue amicably, she mused, "I'm thinking of preparing a Christmas gift or CNY hamper to knock on their door—I'm hoping positive festive spirits will help us have a nice chat."

Responses from the Reddit community included similar accounts of frustrating experiences. One user recounted a time when her floors would become dangerously wet due to condensation from a neighbor's air conditioning unit, leading her to confront the neighbors directly. However, that meeting turned hostile, prompting her to turn to the HDB for assistance.

Ultimately, the HDB discovered that the neighbor’s air conditioning was directing airflow upwards towards the ceiling, causing the condensation effect. They advised the tenants to reposition their air conditioning settings to blow downwards, which was a small step toward resolution.

Despite the initial changes, one user admitted that the system had not fully resolved the water issue but improved slightly after a coincidental face-to-face chat between her father and the neighbor. "Being nice is often the best approach," she noted.

Other forum participants suggested ways to cope with the slippery conditions. Suggestions ranged from using dehumidifiers, carpets, and floor mats, to ensuring that the elderly grandmother wears in-house slippers or more grip-friendly socks to reduce the risk of slipping.

This incident highlights not only the challenges of communal living in HDB flats but also the importance of neighborly communication and cooperation. Such issues are not uncommon; another tenant recently expressed frustrations on social media about relentless incense burning by neighbors, which added to the myriad challenges one can face in shared living spaces.

As the holiday season approaches, one can only hope that goodwill prevails, allowing neighbors to resolve conflicts peacefully while also ensuring the safety of vulnerable residents like the grandmother in this story.