Tag Archives: HDB

Why Braddell View owners may not all vote to privatise

Posted on 10 Jul 2012 | Comments Off on Why Braddell View owners may not all vote to privatise

Braddell View residents may favour privatisation but feel compelled to vote against it if the premiums are too high, said Member of Parliament (MP) Hri Kumar Nair yesterday.

Changes to the HUDC Housing Estates Act were passed in Parliament yesterday to allow HUDC owners the flexibility to vary the fees that each owner has to pay for privatisation. Previously, the fee had to be divided equally among all the owners.

Mr Hri Kumar, the MP for the area, said he supported the amendments, which would make it easier for Braddell View residents to privatise their estate.

Braddell View, the last HUDC estate that has yet to be privatised or earmarked for privatisation, was developed in two phases. The amendments would allow owners in each phase to pay a different fee, as determined by the Chief Valuer.

However, Mr Hri Kumar noted that some would face practical difficulties. “Chief among these will be the premium they must pay,” he said, pointing to the fact that a large number of homeowners were retirees who would have difficulty forking out the “thousands of dollars it will cost to privatise”.

He added: “This will be exacerbated by the sum some of them may have to pay, to top up the lease for Phase One of the estate to make up for the difference in the two phases.”

Minister of State (National Development) Lee Yi Shyan said flat owners can use savings from their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Ordinary Accounts.

Owners who are 55 and above can use savings from their Retirement Accounts as long as the minimum sum is maintained. They can also add their children as owners and use their children’s CPF.

In addition, the estate’s sinking funds can go towards paying the premium.

Mr Lee estimated that owners have about six months to pay the premium and the revised Act makes a provision for the Housing and Development Board to grant an extension if necessary. Sumita Sreedharan

Source : Today – 2012 Jul 10

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HDB will consider measures preventing formation of foreign worker enclaves

Posted on 10 Jul 2012 | Comments Off on HDB will consider measures preventing formation of foreign worker enclaves

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will consider appropriate measures to discourage the formation of significant foreign worker enclaves in HDB estates, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Khaw said HDB was currently monitoring the situation, and that the board does not have the equivalent of the Ethnic Integration Policy or Singapore Permanent Resident quota policy in the management of the number of foreign workers renting HDB flats or rooms.

He said that was because unlike the sale of HDB flats for longer-term occupation, the renting of a flat or room is a temporary housing arrangement.

Mr Khaw was responding to MP for West Coast GRC, Foo Mee Har, who asked what rules were applied to prevent the formation of foreign worker enclaves and to ensure a balanced mix of locals and foreigners in public housing estates.

Currently, foreign workers renting flats or rooms from HDB lessees form about five per cent of the total population living in public flats.

This includes holders of employment passes, S passes, professional visit passes and some work permit holders. Work permit holders who are non-Malaysian construction workers are not eligible to rent HDB flats or rooms.

However, Mr Khaw said there were subletting rules limiting the number of subtenants allowed for each flat type. Flat owners who sublet their flats or rooms are also required to observe the terms and conditions of subletting.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 10 Jul 2012

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