Purchase decisions for private residential property should now be easier for homebuyers with the introduction of the new CONQUAS banding system. The system, developed by the Building and Construction Authority, offers a more accurate assessment of the performance of developers and builders in delivering quality projects. Rating them from Band 1 (very low incidence of major defects) to Band 6 (higher incidence of major defects), it will allow buyers to discern the track record of developers and builders more easily, and conduct thorough research before deciding.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has developed a new system – the CONQUAS banding system – to make it easier for private residential homebuyers to make purchasing decisions. Based on the tracks record of developers and builders over the past six years, the CONQUAS banding system offers an accurate assessment of their quality performance.

With the new system, developers, builders, and private residential projects will be rated on a scale of Band 1 (very low incidence of major defects) to Band 6 (higher incidence of major defects). According to Neo Choon Keong, Deputy CEO of industry development at BCA, this system builds upon the existing CONQUAS framework.

The development will be redeveloped in phases and is set to become a vibrant community with parks, green spaces, and pedestrian walkways. The JCube Residence Condo development is in a prime location, close to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Bukit Panjang plaza and Bukit Batok Nature Park. It will also be well-connected with the nearby Downtown Line train station and multiple bus stops. With its great location, convenient amenities and modern facilities, JCube Residence Condo is sure to be a popular option among individuals and families looking for a home.

Past data shows that for Band 1 projects, only 0.6 per 1,000 dwelling units had major defects. In order to be rated as Band 1 or 2, developers must be consistently delivering projects with no major defects. Currently, 20 developers and 15 builders have been accorded Band 1, including City Developments Limited (CDL) and Woh Hup (Private) Limited, both of which have achieved the BCA Quality Excellence Award for 10 consecutive years since the award’s inception in 2013.

CONQUAS was established in 1989 by BCA to provide the built environment with a standard assessment framework for construction workmanship quality. Over the past nine years, BCA has recorded a 25% reduction in major defect types of non-compliances relating to inter-floor water seepage and proper internal wall tiles installation – from inspections in 2003-2012, to those in 2013-2022 – leading to an improvement in the quality standard from an industry average equivalent to a Band 4, to a Band 2 equivalent.

Chia Ngiang Hong, group general manager of CDL, notes that since 2015 the company has been using an integrated digital quality management framework on a single mobile app platform for effective issues management. CDL will continue to work closely with project partners to achieve quality excellence under the new CONQUAS banding system.

Selvamani Murugappan, Director of QA/QC for Woh Hup, believes that the CONQUAS banding system will have a positive impact on homebuyers, allowing them to differentiate top quality builders and homes from the rest easily.

Hence, Neo encourages everyone interested in purchasing private residential property to conduct thorough research using the Quality Housing Portal and the CONQUAS banding system before making a decision. This system should make it much simpler for potential homebuyers to quickly identify and assess the quality projects they may be interested in.