Singapore's Housing and Development Board Lease Buyback Scheme started on Sunday, after two years in the works. Five applications were received in the first hour. The scheme is designed to help cash-poor, asset-rich seniors meet their retirement needs. 72-year-old Koh Chiong Eng is afraid he may lose his petrol pump attendant job soon because of his age. If that happens, meeting daily expenditure will...
hdb news
Mixed views on whether pricing is attractive to buyers THE first batch of HDB flats for this year has been launched, but do they reflect homebuyers‚ budgets in this downturn? And are their prices an indication of what to expect from other projects later this year? Champion Court, at the junction of Champions Way and Woodlands Avenue 1, was launched yesterday under the Build-To-Order (BTO) system, where...
The new build-to-order (BTO) flats at Champions Court in Woodlands caught their eye, but the young couple decided to stick with their application for a four-room flat at Sengkang even though prices were similar. Why? Bride-to-be Izyanty Asmary, 23, said she was “not comfortable” with having studio apartments — targetted for senior Singaporeans — in the same residence, and the Woodlands flats...
For the first time, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is launching studio apartments in Woodlands under the Build-To-Order scheme. Called Champions Court, there will be 224 units of studio apartments, 182 units of 3-room, 224 units of 4-room and 185 units of 5-room flats available. 3-room flats will cost at least S$118,000, while prices of 4-room flats and 5-room flats will start from S$194,000 and...
Singapore's public housing estates could well be powered by sunlight in future, if a pilot project currently underway proves successful. Already, the Energy Save Programme - spearheaded by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the National Environment Agency and the Energy Market Authority - has shown positive results. The aim of the programme is to bring down energy consumption in all HDB estates by...
WE REFER to Mr Quek Soo Beng‚s letter "A second chance at home" (Feb 10), on the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS). The LBS is a generous scheme specially designed to meet the needs of the elderly. It allows them to continue living in the same HDB flat and neighbourhood, while leading a more financially secure retirement. It is an option to unlock the value of the flat, in addition to subletting a room or...
More is going to be done to promote cycling in Singapore. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will spend S$43 million to design and construct dedicated cycling tracks next to pedestrian footpaths in HDB estates. The first phase of this programme will be implemented in Tampines, Yishun, Sembawang, Pasir Ris and Taman Jurong. Foldable bicycles will also be allowed on MRT trains and public buses during...
I DISAGREE with the recommendations to build "no-frills" housing to meet the needs of young couples who cannot afford resale flats or even new flats direct from HDB. Firstly, not having features such as playgrounds or BBQ pits in such a no-frills housing estate will have social repercussions. The idea contradicts the Government's campaign of encouraging couples to start a family or have more children....
I REFER to the report "No-frills housing, please" (Feb 9). MP Lim Wee Kiak is right to note that 3- and 4-room flats cost only $15,000 and $20,000, respectively, in the '70s. In fact, even 5-room flats cost only $27,500 to $35,500 then. How did they all come to cost 10 to 30 times more in a matter of 30 years? Have construction costs and salaries gone up that much? Not only have prices gone up, the sizes...
NO PLAYGROUNDS or covered walkways in new HDB estates. Nor any barbecue pits. New flats should have very basic floor tiles, meanwhile. It is hardly the usual call from Members of Parliament, who tend to push for upgrading in their constituencies. But two among their ranks are making the call for "no-frills" housing. According to Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Lee Bee Wah, this should be an option for home...