A father and son in Yishun no longer speak to each other despite living in the same HDB flat. Their relationship broke down over disagreements about selling the property.
The 75-year-old father, Zhuo Jianding, wishes to sell the four-room flat at Block 636 Yishun Street 61 to fund his retirement. His 47-year-old son, Zhuo Jinshun, strongly opposes this plan.
Both men work as delivery workers and are joint owners of the flat. The property was transferred to both their names before Zhuo Jianding’s wife died more than 20 years ago.
Zhuo Jianding claims his son has deliberately made the flat messy to prevent it from being sold or rented out. “He’s made the house dirty and messy. Dog waste cleaning tissues pile up in the kitchen,” he said. According to the father, his son has told him he “won’t sign any papers and will wait for me to die.”
Zhuo Jinshun offers a different perspective. He states the flat was purchased through his mother’s efforts as a factory worker. “My mother bought this place so her children would have a home. He never contributed a cent,” said the son.
The son has accused his father of neglecting family responsibilities and alleged domestic violence against his mother in the past. He believes the flat should be kept for his siblings and himself.
Though the father and son live under the same roof, they barely communicate. Arguments break out whenever they speak to each other.
Zhuo Jinshun has installed an electronic lock and surveillance camera on his bedroom door. He claims this was necessary after his father allegedly broke into his room and stole gold jewelry left by his mother.
The property is reportedly valued at over $400,000.
