Tag Archives: HDB News

MY HUSBAND and I acquired an HDB flat two months ago. We were told, as standard practice, to check for and indicate any defects within seven days of acquiring the keys or before renovation work started.

We found five minor defects initially. However, as these were rectified, more seemed to crop up each time we went back to check on the repair work. And we are disappointed with the conduct of the HDB’s contractors. We found cigarette butts on our air-con ledge and the coins we placed on the floor as a ritual during the Hungry Ghost month were thrown away.

What checks does HDB carry out before it hands over the flat to owners?

I had specified that the hollow tiles be filled and the work be carried out by a parquet specialist. The HDB promised to see to it, but it was done by a foreign worker whose foreman told him only to rectify the defects. Now, our renovation plan is delayed again.

Hazel Koo (Mrs)

Source : Straits Times – 14 Oct 2009

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has seen strong demand for the 2,100 flats being offered under its “Sale of Balance Flats” exercise.

The HDB received more than 19,000 applications, just a day before the exercise closes, which means that the flats are nearly nine times oversubscribed.

Demand was high for the flats – ranging from studio apartments to executive flats – in estates such as Bedok, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang and Woodlands.

Balance flats are those unsold in previous Build-to-Order exercises, surplus flats under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, as well as repurchased flats.

These flats are either completed or nearing completion – so owners do not have to wait long before moving in.

The exercise, which is the largest to date, replaces the existing balloting exercise, quarterly sales and half-yearly sales exercises.

The HDB said that the rationale behind this move is to simplify the flat application process, and to provide buyers with a wider choice of flats across a range of locations in one exercise.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 13 Oct 2009