Tag Archives: HDB News

Ethnic quota policy works fine, says HDB

Posted on 10 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on Ethnic quota policy works fine, says HDB

WE THANK Mr Chan Kok Keong for his feedback (’HDB’s ethnic quota policy needs tweak’, Sept 22). The ethnic integration policy (EIP) was introduced to achieve a healthy racial mix in HDB estates and prevent ethnic enclaves.

By providing HDB residents of different races with more opportunities to interact as neighbours, the policy fosters interracial understanding and strengthens social cohesion. The information on the eligible ethnic groups of buyers for resale flats is updated monthly to provide certainty to buyers and sellers on the availability of ethnic quota for the entire month. For instance, when the seller offers an ‘option to purchase’ to the buyer, the buyer will need time to exercise the option, obtain a letter of offer for a bank loan or an HDB Loan Eligibility letter for an HDB loan. Their resale application will not be affected by any changes in the ethnic proportion, as long as the resale application has been submitted within the same month.

However, applicants are more likely to be affected by any quota revision if updating the ethnic quota is done more frequently, as for example, Mr Chan suggested in shortening it to a bimonthly practice. The current combined quota for ‘Indians’ and ‘Others’ offers them a higher limit and greater flexibility. If they were treated as separate groups, their respective ethnic limits will have to be lower, making it harder for them in their flat purchases.

We will continue to review the EIP and the ethnic quotas regularly to ensure their relevance.

Lily Chan-Wong Jee Choo (Mrs)
Deputy Director (Policy & Property)
for Director (Estate Admin & Property)
Housing & Development Board

Source : Straits Times – 10 Oct 2009

Comments Off on Ethnic quota policy works fine, says HDB

Posted in HDB

Tagged , ,

In a bind over flat purchase involving bankrupt

Posted on 9 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on In a bind over flat purchase involving bankrupt

IN MAY last year, my wife and I bought a five-room HDB flat on the open market, on a contra-sale of our three-room flat.

At the second appointment, we learnt the seller was an undischarged bankrupt, and had outstanding loans or debts to the HDB, town council and Central Provident Fund Board. HDB did not advise us or take any precaution to protect the deposit we paid to the seller via the housing agent.

As buyers, we had completed our responsibility of paying all sums due. The seller had repeatedly failed to pay his debts to the parties named.

We sought the assistance of MPs for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, and wrote to the chief executive of HDB and the CPF Board on several occasions, but to no avail.

To make matters worse, while the paperwork for the ownership transfer had not been completed, the CPF Board deducted money from our CPF account as if the purchase transaction had been completed.

Our family of five, including two very small children, are without a home. Continue reading →

Comments Off on In a bind over flat purchase involving bankrupt

Posted in HDB

Tagged , , , ,