When the warranty ends but the leaks begin

A damp patch on the wall or stain on the ceiling may look like a small nuisance at first – but for some homeowners, it can mark the beginning of a long and costly repair cycle.

A recent Malaysian homeowner survey developed by the Home Buyers Association (HBA) and Nippon Paint Malaysia found that nearly nine in 10 respondents whose defect liability period (DLP) had ended experienced waterproofing problems afterwards.

Among those affected, 42.4% spent more than RM5,000 on repairs, while 14.2% paid over RM10,000.

The bigger frustration is that fixing the problem once may not be enough: more than three-quarters of affected homeowners needed at least two repair attempts or said the problem remained unresolved.

Meanwhile, 61.1% reported recurring issues or were unsure whether the original repair had worked. For homeowners, that can mean repeated disruption as well as mounting bills.

The end of the DLP does not necessarily mean the end of defect problems. Among respondents who experienced waterproofing issues afterwards, 76.3% said these appeared either immediately or within the first year after the period ended.

External walls, bathrooms, balconies and terraces were among the most commonly affected areas, while the warning signs were often familiar ones: mould, damp walls, peeling or bubbling paint, ceiling stains and cracks.

Some of these problems can also spread beyond the original leak. Nearly three in four affected homeowners said waterproofing failures had led to other concerns, including interior damage, mould or hygiene problems, electrical risks and structural damage.

Part of the difficulty is that the place where water appears is not always where it entered. Half of affected homeowners said their biggest challenge was either judging how serious the problem was or identifying its root cause.

Others struggled with choosing the right repair method, knowing whom to trust, and deciding whether the price quoted was reasonable.

That uncertainty may explain why many people wait: 80.4% did not act immediately when they first noticed a problem; instead, they monitored it, waited for it to worsen, or only took action once damage became visible inside the home.

HBA honorary secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said homeowners should document defects early and ensure repairs address the underlying cause rather than simply patching what is visible.

“For homeowners, the end of the DLP should not mean that concerns around the condition of their home simply disappear,” he said.

The survey also found that waterproofing problems affected daily life for 87.6% of those surveyed to some extent, whether through damaged belongings, disruption to routines, stress, health concerns or worries over property value.

Ultimately, a leak is rarely just about the stain you can see. Catching the problem early, keeping records during the DLP, and understanding where the water is actually coming from may help prevent a small defect from becoming a much more expensive one.

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