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Allow singles to purchase HDB flats early

Posted on 10 Jul 2012 | Comments Off

I refer to the report “Luring the stork” (June 29).

The policy of not allowing singles to apply for Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats needs revisiting.

This pro-family policy may put the Government on high moral ground, but it impedes those who want to prepare their love nest earlier.

Since the Government’s commitment is to give all Singaporeans a chance to own a home, then it should not matter when the Singaporean chooses to have it.

Allowing singles to book an HDB flat early is a pragmatic approach to handle both the housing and procreation issue.

It allows the housing planners to manage the demand and supply of flats.

As it takes three to four years before a flat is ready, singles would still need to wait.

When a couple decides to get married, it also takes them that long to get their love nest up.

What do they do in the meantime? Delay their marriage or stay with their parents?

By the time they get their flat, they would have lost the urge to procreate as repayment and renovation costs start to stack up.

Allowing singles to buy a flat early would allow them to be more conscious of their savings, as it means that their financial commitments are spread out better.

We should learn from the animal kingdom. For many species, the lure of procreation depends on how well the nest is prepared. The females would look for the best nest before making such a commitment.

Humans are similar. A woman would find that a man with a decent home is a sign of stable commitment.

From James Koh Lee Meng

Source : Today – 2012 Jul 10

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Tagged general single, HDB, Housing Development Board

Why Braddell View owners may not all vote to privatise

Posted on 10 Jul 2012 | Comments Off

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