anything pasal HOUSING

fatz

HDB unveils new generation of public housing in exhibition
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 31 August 2007 2243 hrs
         
         
SINGAPORE: HDB heartlands are set for a major facelift over the next few years.

In fact, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has described it as a "quantum leap in public housing in Singapore".

Mr Mah was speaking at the opening of the HDB's "Remaking Our Heartland" exhibition on Friday evening.

He also unveiled more details on the new generation of public housing and plans to help the elderly unlock the value of their flats.

"We will provide a variety of housing choices, landscaped community spaces, bring more greenery to residents' doorstep and make better use of water bodies to soften the impact of high-rise, high-density living. Some of these features are new; others are not so new. We will bring these various elements together to transform HDB living into 'Housing in a Park'," said Mr Mah.

On display at the week-long exhibition at the HDB Hub are plans in store to rejuvenate the HDB estates - starting with Punggol for the new towns, Yishun for the middle-age towns and Dawson for the old estates.

"It (HDB living) also helps our citizens to share the country's progress through the upgrading programmes. And now it's also going to help to supplement our retirement income when we grow old," said Mr Mah.

And this can be done through a new lease buyback scheme which was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the National Day Rally.

Under this scheme, HDB will buy back the tail end of the flat lease from elderly owners and leave them with a shorter lease of 30 years on the same flat.

The value unlocked from the lease buyback scheme will be based on market rate.

Mr Mah said owners will receive a lump sum payment when they sign up for the scheme.

They will also be able to continue living in the flat, while drawing a monthly payout for a fixed number of years.

"If he says, 'I want the payout to be up to 85 years old'. So, from 62 to 85, he will receive a monthly payout. If he lives beyond 85, the insurance will then kick in and give him a monthly payout. It is likely that we will ride on the CPF scheme when it is ready," Mr Mah said.

So, under the scheme, payment will be divided into three parts.

The first will be an initial lump sum payment.

This will be followed by monthly instalments over a fixed number of years.

If the residents do not live that long, the amount unpaid will be returned to the participants' families.

A third portion of the payment, said Mr Mah, will go towards an insurance scheme that will give the owners an income for as long as they live.

Mr Mah added that details of the scheme are still being worked out and will be out by early next year.

HDB projects that some 25,000 households will qualify for the lease buyback scheme.

It is targeted at owners aged 62 and above, particularly those living in a 2- or 3-room flat who have only had one bite of the housing cherry.

Mr Mah added that the government will provide a subsidy to encourage eligible residents to join the scheme.

All residents are encouraged to be more involved in the shaping of their neighbourhood.

Mr Mah said there will be more formalised consultation channels like mini Town Hall gatherings, where residents can discuss the facilities they wish to be built in the estate. - CNA/ir

fatz

Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, September 16

HDB to construct a 5.5 km man梞ade river in Punggol

SINGAPORE : Residents of Punggol can look forward to more water activities in the future.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is set to build a man梞ade river in Punggol from 2009.

The 5.5梜ilometre Punggol Waterway will run through stepped梪p homes, the Punggol MRT station and an upcoming town centre.

Residential units, both private and public, will be built just 10 metres away from each side of the river.

One of the key icons along the waterway will be a commercial and residential development.

The site for this is expected to be sold within the next five years. It will sit next to the widest stretch of the man梞ade river, and will be home to residential units, al fresco dining and shops.

Besides being next to the MRT station, it might even be served by river taxis.

The Punggol Waterway will connect two rivers

fatz

Medical cluster among proposals to transform Yishun estate
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 September 2007 1841 hrs

SINGAPORE: Yishun estate is set for a major makeover, with proposals to turn its town centre into the hub of the north over the next few years.

Land has been set aside in Yishun for medical specialty centres or a university.

Yishun residents are also among the first to pilot HDB's new upgrading schemes that are aimed at middle-aged estates which are over 20 years old.

Tampines is another area that is designated for these schemes.

The pilot

fatz

HDB resale prices surge in Q3
By Johnson Choo and Esther Fung, TODAY | Posted: 02 October 2007 1131 hrs
  

SINGAPORE : Resale prices of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats have risen to levels not seen since 1996, benefiting from a spillover of the bullish sentiment in the private home market.

In the third quarter of this year, HDB flats commanded an average 15 per cent premium to their prices in the fourth quarter of 1998, which is used by the HDB as the base quarter for price comparison (base=100). Early estimates by the HDB showed the resale price index grew from 108 to 115 - a strong 6.5 per cent, in the three months ending September this year. This is more than double the 3 per cent growth registered in the previous quarter.

"This means good news for the mass market - for people who have bought homes in the last six years, as they are now able to realise some profit," said Mr Mohamed Ismail, the chief executive of real estate agency PropNex.

Mr Ismail noted that the HDB resale price index had shown positive increases for three consecutive quarters. He estimated that with the current trend expected to continue into the final quarter of the year, the total number of resale units registered for the year could surpass last year's by about 4 per cent to hit 31,000.

Mr Eugene Lim, assistant vice-president at real estate agency ERA, said: "While the overall price increase was expected, the larger-than-usual jump in the HDB resale price index is probably caused by the filter-down effect from the private property market."

Earlier this year, several resale HDB flats were snapped up at record prices by cash-rich beneficiaries from the en bloc sales of private housing estates. Some prospective sellers of HDB flats in choice areas such as Bukit Merah, Queenstown, Tiong Bahru and Toa Payoh are now asking for premiums between S$50,000 and S$200,000 above valuation, ERA noted.

"With these kinds of asking prices, we are beginning to see some resistance in the market as the typical HDB home buyer does not have or does not want to fork out too much cash," said Mr Lim. "It just doesn't make sense."

Mr Nicholas Mak, director, Consultancy and Research Department at Knight Frank, believes that the growing demand for resale HDB flats will drive the lower end of the private property market.

"If the HDB resale home prices continue to grow by more than 3 per cent per quarter on average, it will give that extra push to the private mass-market segment in 2008, and we can expect very robust upgrader demand for private homes," said Mr Mak.

For private non-landed properties, prices continued to rise, but at a slower pace, in the third quarter - the first time since the current market upturn that started two years ago. The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) preliminary estimates showed that private property prices rose 8 per cent compared to the second quarter, when they grew 8.3 per cent from the previous quarter - the fastest growth rate in eight years.

"Despite the stock market turbulence in August, the average private residential property prices in Singapore increased by 8.3 per cent," said Mr Mak. "The surge is even more obvious when compared with last year, where the average private residential property prices rose by less than 4 per cent per quarter."

"The demand drivers for the increase in the price of private homes could be attributed to several factors, including the increase in foreign talent to Singapore, optimism of the market, economic growth, and the increase in the price of the rental market," said Mr Mak.

Singapore created a record 64,400 new jobs in the second quarter of this year, and recorded a seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of only 2.3 per cent.

About 43,000 new units of private housing are expected to be completed between the second half of this year and 2010, the URA said. Of these, about 19,900 units, or 46 per cent, have yet to be sold by developers.

Mr Mak predicts that "for the whole of 2007, private home prices could increase between 23 per cent and 32 per cent year-on-year, while HDB average resale flat prices could rise by 13 to 20 per cent". - TODAY/ym

fatz

HDB's Remaking Our Heartland plans get good response from Singaporeans
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 October 2007 1737 hrs
         

SINGAPORE : Plans to rejuvenate public housing in Singapore have been welcomed by many residents, after they learned more about the different initiatives at HDB's Remaking Our Heartland exhibitions.

The roving exhibitions, which ended last Wednesday and featured Punggol, Yishun and Dawson estates, attracted about 110,000 visitors, 10 percent of whom took part in a survey on HDB's plans to enhance the living environment.

HDB said over 80 percent of the respondents were excited about the future of public housing showcased in the exhibition.

There was strong support for the proposals to turn Punggol into a waterfront town with lush greenery, waterways and more entertainment options.

A majority (81 percent) also said they were prepared to pay higher monthly service and conservancy charges to enjoy the new features. About half (46 percent) were willing to pay S$10 or more a month.

Many residents were also in favour of plans to regenerate old estates with sky gardens and parks.

And 90 percent said they were willing to help maintain the greens.

When it comes to HDB's estate upgrading programmes, over 60 percent of the respondents are happy that residents will have a greater say in what is to be built in their neighbourhood.

Three-quarters of those surveyed also said they would take part in discussions at Town Hall meetings and Block parties. - CNA/ms

fatz

SLA releases residential site at Woodlands for development
Posted: 23 October 2007 1202 hrs
           
SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has released a residential site for development by tender at Woodlands Avenue 2 and Rosewood Drive.

The site, called Rosewood at Woodlands, occupies an area of some 16,000 square metres, with a gross plot ratio of 1.4.

It could potentially support a condominium of up to five storeys, with a gross floor area of 22,400 square metres.

SLA said the completed development is expected to attract HDB up-graders in the Woodlands and Sembawang areas and cater to the expatriate community.

Rosewood at Woodlands is located near educational institutions such as the Singapore Sports School, Singapore American School, Innova Junior College, Si Ling Primary School and Republic Polytechnic.

It is also near major transport links such as the Seletar Expressway and the Woodlands MRT station and bus interchange.

SLA said the site is being released under its confirmed list system, which means the parcel will be sold by tender at a pre-determined date, without the need for the sale to be triggered by any developer's application.

Consultant Colliers International has been appointed to market the site.

Rents in the Woodlands and Mandai area have surged between 25 percent and 30 percent in the third quarter of 2007, recording one of the highest growth rates.

This was due largely to the Singapore American School being located within the area.

The tender for the Woodlands site will close on November 20th. - CNA/ch

fatz

HDB releases 99-year leasehold site at Elias Road for condo
By Rachel Kelly, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 October 2007 2352 hrs
         

SINGAPORE : The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is releasing a land parcel for condominium housing at Elias Road in Pasir Ris.

The 99-year leasehold site occupies an area of 14,126 square metres and has an allowable gross floor area of 42,379 square metres.

The site is located within the Pasir Ris HDB estate and is about 10 to 15 minutes' walk to the Pasir Ris MRT station.

It is also near amenities such as Elias Mall, Whitesands shopping centre, Pasir Ris Park, Downtown East and Meridien Junior College.

Consultant CB Richard Ellis says the future project will be able to fetch prices of around S$700 per square foot.

It expects the site to attract bids between S$260 and S$300 per square foot per plot ratio.

The site is being released under its confirmed list system, which means the parcel will be sold by tender at a pre-determined date, without the need for the sale to be triggered by any developer's application.

The tender closes on December 18th. - CNA/ch

fatz

Govt takes away deferred payment scheme
By Joyce Teo, Property Correspondent

THE deferred payment scheme that allowed homebuyers to postpone payments on new property was scrapped without warning by the Government last night.

It said the strong economy and property market allowed it to axe the scheme, a move that will also deter speculators and force people to be more prudent when committing to pricey real estate.

It was a response to signs of overheating in the market, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said last night.

'There's a danger that we may feel over exuberance in the market. There's also a danger that it may actually encourage excessive speculation,' he said.

Buyers will now have to make progressive payments in step with the construction process, instead of deferring payment until the property is completed a few years down the track.

Experts tip prices and sales will be hit although the impact may not be significant given the robust demand.

'Now the property market is 'red-hot', maybe after withdrawing deferred payment it will just be 'hot',' said Mr Ku Swee Yong, director of marketing and business development at Savills Singapore.

'There is strong, genuine demand driving sales. Taking away this scheme will only spook speculators. It will take away the froth that is false demand'

Projects that already have approval can continue with deferred payments but others - uncompleted private homes and commercial properties, including industrial ones - will be hit by the withdrawal, which took effect last night.

Some experts believe deferred payment encouraged speculators - and so pushing up prices - as it lets them trade without investing much cash up front.

'Once speculators find it riskier to go into the market, there will be less competition for homes,' said an industry observer.

'Developers may have to lower their prices and prices may level off. It's good to cool the market now so that you are in tune with the rest of the world.'

Progressive payments call on buyers to pay an amount varying from 5 to 25 per cent of the purchase price at various stages of construction.

A 10 per cent payment is required once foundation work is completed, which could be in as soon as six months after purchase or 18 months.

Luxury homes have continued soaring in price while new Government figures show that speculation is becoming a market factor.

Sub-sales - owners selling on uncompleted property - in the core central region comprised 21.6 per cent of total sales in the three months to Sept 30.

Overall, the accounted for 12.7 per cent of total deals. Subsales accounted for 28 per cent of total deals in 1996 when speculation was rife.

'Speculation has not reached mid-1990s level, but at the rate it's going, it could increase, so why not nip it in the bud?' said Ms Tay Huey Ying, director of research and consultancy at Colliers International.

The Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore said: 'The need for this scheme has diminished with the strong market recovery.'

Some experts say yesterday's move may trigger fears of further Government intervention, which may then indirectly hit prices and sales.

Mr Mah did not rule out the possibility of further moves yesterday: 'We are monitoring the market very closely. Obviously, the objective is to make sure that our prices do not overrun, do not go beyond the fundamentals.'

'We want to make sure the market is a stable and healthy one.'

fatz

Komentar : 3 November 2007         
  
ANAK PASCA MERDEKA

MENGAPA TIDAK LIHAT DI UTARA PULA...?

Oleh
Noor A. Rahman

GERUN. Mungkin inilah reaksi pembeli, terutama kali pertama, ketika menatap perangkaan harga jualan semula flat Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB). Harganya terus melambung.

Dalam Julai-September sahaja, secara purata harganya meningkat 6.6 peratus. Sepanjang permulaan tahun ini, indeks harganya naik 11 peratus.

Ekonomi negara kian kukuh. Tentu harga flat jual semula HDB pun naik.

Cuma kenaikan tidak merata - yakni kawasan tengah Singapura seperti Bukit Merah dan Toa Payoh menikmati harga yang lebih tinggi berbanding kawasan lain.

Mujurlah, estet seperti Woodlands dan Yishun masih menawarkan harga jualan yang lebih rendah.

Saya bukan ejen hartanah atau pemaju. Tetapi saya syorkan lihatlah utara kerana harga jualan flat awam di sini memang berbaloi.

Contohnya, harga purata flat jualan semula bagi flat lima bilik di Bedok adalah $385,500, sedangkan harga bagi jenis flat yang sama di Yishun adalah $282,000 dan $285,000 di Woodlands.

Tanya dulu soalan penting: Apakah wajar dan perlu kita membayar wang tambahan $100,000 itu hanya untuk mendapatkan jenis flat yang sama?

Saya pernah menetap di Bedok selama lebih sedekad dan kini menetap di Woodlands. Pada pendapat saya, perbezaan harga ini memang tidak berbaloi.

Ini belum lagi kos-kos sampingan seperti wang tunai melebihi taksiran (COV) yang lebih tinggi, mencapai puluhan ribu dolar.

Apatah lagi jika pembelinya tidak mempunyai pendapatan tinggi, akibatnya menanggung hutang bagi tempoh agak lama dengan pembayaran ansuran bulanan yang besar.

Bagi mereka yang benar-benar mampu, ini tidak menjadi masalah. Jika tidak, fikirkanlah dua tiga kali.

Jangan sampai kita terlalu taksub untuk membeli 'flat idaman' di 'kawasan perumahan popular' tetapi akhirnya terjerat dengan jumlah hutang yang besar. Jangan gigit jari di hari tua nanti.

Usahlah kita terlalu boros dalam membeli flat awam yang terlalu tinggi harganya sehingga akhirnya kita terpaksa mengeluarkan wang tunai untuk menokok pembayaran bulanan melalui Tabung Simpanan Pekerja (CPF).

Sementara itu, ramai warga Singapura yang masih berfikiran di takuk lama - kawasan utara dianggap 'hulu'.

Naik MRT dari Woodlands ke Orchard Road tidak sampai 30 minit. Ini lebih cepat daripada perjalanan MRT di Timur (Bedok dan Tampines).

Pasal makan, ramai juga yang menyatakan di kawasan timur banyak tempat makan halal. Memang betul.

Namun di kawasan utara telah muncul beberapa tempat makanan yang agak baik seperti beberapa kedai kopi (semua gerainya menjual makanan halal) di Woodlands Centre. Begitu jua deretan makanan halal di Jalan Kayu, Restoran Bilal (Sembawang Road), Restoran Al-Ameen, Banquet, Fork and Spoon dan banyak lagi.

Di segi kemudahan beli-belah, bangunan Northpoint akan diluaskan sehingga seganda besarnya - menyaingi pusat beli-belah Causeway Point yang merupakan antara bangunan beli-belah yang terbesar di sini.

Bukan itu sahaja, pasar raya Sheng Siong juga mempunyai cawangan yang besar di Woodlands Centre.

Lagipun kawasan utara itu juga dekat Johor Bahru, memudahkan penduduk yang gemar membeli-belah, mengisi minyak dan makan di bandar itu.

Sekitar dua tahun lagi, kawasan utara juga akan mempunyai hospital serba baru - Hospital Khoo Teck Puat.

Mungkin ada yang menyatakan pembangunan dan perkembangan ini masih tidak dapat menyaingi kemudahan di kawasan timur khususnya bagi memenuhi keperluan masyarakat Melayu/Islam.

Ada yang menyatakan kriteria pembelian flat adalah pelbagai termasuk adanya anggota keluarga dan sanak-saudara yang tinggal berdekatan.

Namun bagi mereka yang tidak mempunyai simpanan wang tunai yang besar, atau lebih suka berhemat bagi masa tua, tinggallah sahaja di kawasan utara.

Apa pun hujah, harga flatnya lebih rendah. Tak membakar saku kita. Itu pun jika anda memang praktikal dan hemat.

fatz

HDB awards tender for leasing of 120 SERS flats
Posted: 07 November 2007 1444 hrs
  

SINGAPORE : HDB has awarded the tender of leasing out 120 flats vacated under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) in Tiong Bahru to Katong Hostel at $230,280 per month.

It is on a 3 + 3-year tenancy.

These flats comprise 60 units of 3-room flats and 60 units of 4-room flats at Blocks 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 Tiong Bahru Road.

HDB says it will assess the response to this pilot project, before deciding whether to expand the scheme in future.

If needed, HDB has a potential supply of about 5,000 units that can be introduced to bolster rental supply in the HDB market over the next three years.

This is a pilot project to lease out SERS flats to the general public so as to put these flats to better use in the interim period, pending their redevelopment. - CNA/ch

fatz

Singapura : 9 November 2007         
         
JUAL BELI FLAT TANPA EJEN JIMAT $11,000

Guna kaedah DIY selepas ikuti seminar jualan semula HDB

Oleh
Saini Salleh

CIK SITI Hawa Shaini dan suaminya, Encik Aminuddin Mohd Noor, bukan ejen rumah tetapi mereka sendirilah yang menjual flat lima biliknya di Bedok Reservoir dan membeli flat jenis jumbo di kawasan yang sama.

Jual beli flat yang mereka lakukan sendiri (DIY) itu adalah hasil mengikuti seminar jualan semula anjuran Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB) Mei lalu.

Pengetahuan itu diperolehi dengan meneliti maklumat mengenai prosedur jual beli flat yang lengkap disediakan di laman lembaga itu.

'Seminar yang saya dan suami ikuti memberi kami kefahaman lebih jelas mengenai DIY jual beli flat. Kami cuba sendiri seperti mendapatkan khidmat taksiran, mendapatkan pinjaman dan menghantar permohonan dan nampaknya segalanya berjalan lancar.

'Kami juga pasarkan sendiri flat dengan memasang iklan di akhbar dan alhamdulillah dalam seminggu dah dapat pembeli.

'Kemudian kami cari sendiri flat pengganti dan dalam kedua-dua urusan itu kami tak pakai khidmat ejen rumah,' kata Cik Siti Hawa, ibu enam anak yang meraih penjimatan komisen ejen rumah sekitar $11,000 daripada jual beli kedua-dua flat tersebut.

Cik Siti Hawa, seorang guru berusia 45 tahun, dan Encik Aminuddin, seorang pekerja syarikat Singapore Airlines (SIA) berusia 46 tahun, menjual flat lima biliknya dengan harga lebih $280,000 dan membeli flat jumbo enam setengah bilik dengan harga $430,000 - kedua-duanya pada Ogos lalu.

Flat jumbo mereka kini sedang menjalani kerja-kerja ubah elok.

Pasangan itu adalah antara pemilik flat yang melakukan urusan jual beli flat sendiri.

Perangkaan HDB menunjukkan lebih ramai pemilik yang melakukan sedemikian. Bilangan itu meningkat daripada 5.5 peratus daripada urusan jual beli flat pada 1998 kepada 7.2 peratus sekarang ini.

Menurut Cik Siti Hawa, urusan jual beli secara dalam talian itu mudah jika pemilik mempunyai cukup wang cengkeram termasuk Tabung Simpanan Pekerja (CPF) dan tidak mempunyai masalah dalam mendapatkan pinjaman HDB atau bank.

Beliau menggalak mereka yang berhasrat menjual dan membeli flat agar menyertai seminar jualan semula HDB untuk mengetahui selok-belok urusan secara DIY yang berbaloi itu.

fatz

Singapura : 9 November 2007        
         
LEBIH BANYAK JUAL BELI FLAT HDB TANPA EJEN

Oleh
Saini Salleh

JUAL beli flat tidak semestinya diuruskan ejen rumah - boleh dilakukan sendiri (DIY) oleh penjual dan pembeli.

Malah, perangkaan Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB) menunjukkan jual beli flat secara DIY telah meningkat daripada 5.5 peratus pada 1998 kepada 7.2 peratus sekarang ini.

Pada tempoh sembilan bulan pertama tahun ini, dari Januari hingga September lalu, HDB menerima 1,635 permohonan jualan semula menerusi kaedah sedemikian.

Jumlah tersebut membentuk 7.2 peratus daripada keseluruhan permohonan jual beli flat jualan semula sepanjang tempoh tersebut.

Seorang jurucakap HDB berkata peningkatan permohonan jualan semula secara DIY itu mungkin disebabkan bertambahnya kesedaran orang ramai mengenai manfaatnya dan seminar jualan semula bulanan yang dianjurkan HDB setiap tahun.

Daripada 16 sesi yang dianjurkan setiap tahun, sebanyak 12 adalah dalam bahasa Inggeris dan selebihnya dalam bahasa Mandarin.

Menurut jurucakap HDB, seramai 896 peserta mendaftarkan diri bagi seminar yang dianjurkan sepanjang sembilan bulan pertama tahun ini.

HDB berkata bahawa 9 peratus daripada mereka adalah peserta Melayu.

'Sekarang ini mungkin tidak terdapat bilangan yang mencukupi bagi kami menganjurkan sesi dalam bahasa Melayu. HDB akan menimbangkan kemungkinan menganjurkannya dalam bahasa Melayu pada masa depan,' tambah jurucakap HDB.

Seminar setengah hari itu antara lain menyentuh dasar dan prosedur jual beli flat, merancang kewangan, soal mendapatkan surat kelayakan pinjaman HDB dan penggunaan opsyen bagi membeli flat.

Mereka juga berpeluang mendengar taklimat mengenai penggunaan Tabung Simpanan Pekerja (CPF) untuk membeli flat.

'Maklum balas para peserta menunjukkan seminar ini bukan saja memberi maklumat yang mencukupi malah berguna,' tambah jurucakap HDB tersebut.

Seminar selanjutnya dengan bayaran $25 seorang akan diadakan 1 Disember ini.

Pertanyaan lebih lanjut boleh diperolehi dalam waktu pejabat menerusi talian 6490-3547 atau 6490-3546.

fatz

Proposed changes to Housing & Development Act introduced
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2007 2329 hrs
         

         

SINGAPORE: Proposed amendments to the Housing and Development Act will provide owners of older flats with more help on common maintenance problems.

The amendments, which were introduced in Parliament Monday, allow for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) to be implemented.

Under the HIP, HDB owners will get help with problems such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks. They will also be offered a choice on what works they want to get done when their flats are upgraded.

Flats built before 1987 that have not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme are eligible for HIP.

The amended bill will also allow the Housing Development Board to conduct polling for the HIP on a block basis. Currently polling is done by precinct.

Works will be carried out if at least 75 per cent of the lessees vote in favour of such works. - CNA/ac

fatz

Proposed changes to Housing & Development Act introduced
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2007 2329 hrs
         

         

SINGAPORE: Proposed amendments to the Housing and Development Act will provide owners of older flats with more help on common maintenance problems.

The amendments, which were introduced in Parliament Monday, allow for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) to be implemented.

Under the HIP, HDB owners will get help with problems such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks. They will also be offered a choice on what works they want to get done when their flats are upgraded.

Flats built before 1987 that have not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme are eligible for HIP.

The amended bill will also allow the Housing Development Board to conduct polling for the HIP on a block basis. Currently polling is done by precinct.

Works will be carried out if at least 75 per cent of the lessees vote in favour of such works. - CNA/ac

fatz

Annual Values of HDBs, properties to be revised
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 November 2007 0025 hrs
         
         

SINGAPORE: The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore will be revising the Annual Values (AV) of HDB flats and most other properties from January 1.

Most AVs will be revised upwards to reflect the current rentable values of these properties, and property tax computation will be affected.

All owner-occupied residential properties, however, will receive a tax rebate of up to S$100 per year in 2008 and 2009 as part of the Goods and Services Tax Offset Package announced in this year's budget.

HDB owners will receive their valuation notices and property tax bills by January 1. Those paying property tax will receive an additional "Guide to Property Tax" brochure.

HDB flats in areas such as Bishan, Bukit Merah and Marine Parade generally have higher AVs. - CNA/ac

fatz

Proposed changes to Housing & Development Act introduced
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2007 2329 hrs
         

         

SINGAPORE: Proposed amendments to the Housing and Development Act will provide owners of older flats with more help on common maintenance problems.

The amendments, which were introduced in Parliament Monday, allow for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) to be implemented.

Under the HIP, HDB owners will get help with problems such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks. They will also be offered a choice on what works they want to get done when their flats are upgraded.

Flats built before 1987 that have not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme are eligible for HIP.

The amended bill will also allow the Housing Development Board to conduct polling for the HIP on a block basis. Currently polling is done by precinct.

Works will be carried out if at least 75 per cent of the lessees vote in favour of such works. - CNA/ac

fatz

Home > Latest News > Money
Nov 12, 2007        
Property tax on some HDB flats to rise
By Tan Hui Yee, Housing Correspondent
GET ready to pay more property tax next year. Along with the rise in home prices, the taxman is revising the value of most properties upwards.

However, rebates given to offset the impact of the goods and services tax (GST) hike this year will soften the move's impact.

The annual value of all types of Housing Board flats types will be raised from Jan 1 (2008), said the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (Iras) in a statement on Monday. This means property taxes, which amount to 4 per cent of the annual value of owner-occupied homes, will rise.

Asked about private homes, Iras said: 'The annual values of most private residential properties have already been reassessed to reflect the current market rental levels during the year. The average increase for these private residential properties is about 20 per cent.'

"The private residential properties in the central core have generally increased by about 20% to 50% in 2007, it said

HDB flats in more central and popular areas like Bishan, Bukit Merah and Marine Parade will see higher rises in annual values.

The annual values will increase by an average of 18 per cent for four-room and executive flats and 20 per cent for one, two- and five-room flats. Three-room flats will face the greatest increase of 25 per cent.

Most HDB flatowners, however, will not pay higher taxes even after the revision because of property tax rebates granted earlier this year (2007) to offset the impact of the GST hike.

Currently, owners of all one- and two-room flats as well as 13 per cent of owners of three-room flats do not pay property taxes because of earlier GST rebates.

The 2007 GST offset package gives all owners who are living in their property an extra $100 rebate for next year and 2009.

This means 90 per cent of all owners of HDB flats will not pay more property tax next year (2008). In fact, 60 per cent of three-room flat owners will pay zero property tax, while 40 per cent will pay less tax than now.

The average three-room flat owner who pays $16 in property tax now, would need to pay only $4 next year.

About 15 per cent of owners of four- and five-room and executive flats face a hike in tax payable, but not more than $40.

The last time the annual values of HDB flats were raised was in 2004, and that doubled the number of homeowners paying property tax. The increase brought in an extra $40 million a year for the Government.

SweetCandy

Tks fatz for sharing with us the info..

fatz

SC...

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HDB to clear blocks, market in Hougang to rejuvenate area
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 November 2007 1947 hrs
         
         

SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has identified nine rental residential, commercial and industrial blocks, as well as a hawker centre in Hougang for clearance.

HDB said these properties are about 33 years old and have to make way for plans to rejuvenate the estate.

The affected properties are Blocks 3, 4, 8 to 11, 11A to 14 in Avenue 3/7.

Affected tenants and stallholders have been notified of the clearance. If eligible, they will receive the standard clearance benefits and assistance where necessary.

The site currently occupied by Blocks 12 to 14 in Hougang Avenue 7 is scheduled for sale for private housing development in the second half of 2009.

The remaining site will be developed for residential or commercial use after 2010, depending on prevailing market conditions.


- CNA/so

deaf4ever

tu hari aku sertu pakai sabun ni

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