Poor will not be neglected in HDB upgrading
Revised schemes to allow for more flexibility and govt subsidies.
Tan Hui Yee
Tue, Jan 22, 2008
The Straits Times
THE Housing Board will not neglect the needs of the poor, or be rigid, as it upgrades flats under schemes which have recently been revamped.
The Minister of State for National Development, Ms Grace Fu, gave this assurance as the Housing and Development (Amendment) Bill, which paves the way for one of the new programmes, was passed in Parliament yesterday.
During the debate on the Bill, various MPs had put forward wish-lists.
Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC) wanted the Government to absorb the co-payment that will be required for lower-income households to get their homes upgraded.
Under the new Home Improvement Programme (HIP), which focuses on essential improvements within a flat such as repairing spalling concrete, residents will have to pay between 5 and 12.5 per cent of the total bill. They can opt out of some items.
The other new scheme recently introduced - the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, where improvements are made across several precincts - will be fully paid for by the Government.
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What the MPs said CO-PAYMENT WOES 'This amendment is like the HDB offering ice-cream to dwellers of older flats... Because of this co- payment, some may just have to watch while others are polishing off their ice-cream.' -MADAM CYNTHIA PHUA (ALJUNIED GRC) on poorer folk who cannot pay for upgrading NOT BENEFITED AT ALL 'Millions of dollars have been spent, but Potong Pasir has not benefited even one cent from those funds spent on upgrading public flats. Are Potong Pasir residents not Singapore citizens? Don't they pay income tax? Don't their sons do national service?' -MR CHIAM SEE TONG (POTONG PASIR) on his ward being lower down in priority in HDB upgrading programmes PRIVATE HOMES TOO? 'I hope the Ministry of National Development can also come up with a scheme for these private apartment dwellers...Never mind if the subsidy is a smaller amount as it is sometimes the thought that counts.' -MR LIANG ENG HWA (HOLLAND-BUKIT TIMAH GRC) suggesting that the Government should offer upgrading for those living in private homes |
Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) asked for items such as aluminium window frames or accessibility features for the elderly and disabled to be added to the list of essential improvements under the HIP programme.
He also wanted the Government to consider extending its upgrading schemes to private estates.
Ms Fu rejected Mr Liang's suggestion that government-subsidised upgrading be offered to private estates, pointing out that private homes could be owned by foreigners as well as permanent residents. Unlike owners of HDB flats, private home owners also have the option of selling their homes collectively.
On the question of lower-income households, Ms Fu said flat owners can cut their bills by opting out of various improvements.
Ms Fu assured members that the HDB has in place 'sufficient financial help' for struggling flat owners, who are given the option to pay their share of the upgrading bill through instalments over a long time. To date, it has not taken any flat owner to court over unpaid upgrading bills.
Meanwhile, the HDB will consider elderly-friendly features like grab bars as part of the optional improvement items under the HIP if they prove popular. Current options are limited to upgrading toilets, new entrance doors, grille gates and refuse hoppers.
However, flat owners are free to make separate requests to HDB contractors to install such items in their flats at the same time as their flats are upgraded.
Ms Fu stressed that the upgrading programmes are 'not a substitute for routine maintenance, cyclical repair the home owner and town councils will have to undertake'.
Meanwhile, opposition MP Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir) asked why the flats in his ageing ward have not been upgraded over the two decades in which upgrading has been available.
Ms Fu replied that while his ward is eligible for the upgrades, the Government prioritises districts based on their support of government policies.