mr funny
18-04-11, 19:31
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_657720.html
Apr 17, 2011
GE 2011
HUDC estate in Hougang privatised
People's Action Party (PAP) grassroots adviser in Hougang Eric Low announced yesterday that a Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) estate in the opposition-held ward has been successfully privatised.
But HUDC flat owners at Blocks 344 to 350 Hougang Avenue 7 said their happiness at the move was dampened somewhat because of the unresolved issue of their sinking fund.
They say this has not been addressed by the Hougang town council, whose chairman is Mr Low Thia Khiang.
The PAP's prospective candidate for Hougang, Mr Desmond Choo, said yesterday he will work with Mr Eric Low to help residents on this issue.
The HUDC estate held a vote in February during which 233 of the 286 units - or 82.5 per cent - voted in favour of privatisation. The estate became eligible for privatisation last year.
HUDC flats, which are typically larger units, were built by the Government from the 1970s for middle-income earners and have 99-year leases.
For an HUDC estate to be privatised, 75 per cent of residents need to support the move. Consent must also be obtained from the Housing Board.
If the vote goes through before Aug 1, 2013, the Government will cap the cost of privatising the homes at $30,000 per unit. Key benefits of privatising are that home owners will be able to manage their estates and build condo-like facilities, as well as eventually be able to sell en bloc.
When the estate is privatised, part of the sinking fund - contributed by owners of these blocks over the years and held by the town council currently - will be returned to the residents.
Vice-chairman of the protem committee for the estate Chong Chee Keong said the residents wrote several letters to the town council to ask what the amount would be. But there has been no reply.
Mr Eric Low said he hoped the matter would be resolved soon. He said the successful privatisation of the estate was the result of much 'hard work' and he was happy residents got what they wanted.
As for Mr Choo, he said he felt he was making progress in Hougang, which has been held by Mr Low Thia Khiang, the Workers' Party chief, since 1991.
'I've covered about 40 per cent of the estate now, and believe in taking time to know the residents, instead of covering more ground with a 'touch and go' approach,' he said.
Jessica Cheam
Apr 17, 2011
GE 2011
HUDC estate in Hougang privatised
People's Action Party (PAP) grassroots adviser in Hougang Eric Low announced yesterday that a Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) estate in the opposition-held ward has been successfully privatised.
But HUDC flat owners at Blocks 344 to 350 Hougang Avenue 7 said their happiness at the move was dampened somewhat because of the unresolved issue of their sinking fund.
They say this has not been addressed by the Hougang town council, whose chairman is Mr Low Thia Khiang.
The PAP's prospective candidate for Hougang, Mr Desmond Choo, said yesterday he will work with Mr Eric Low to help residents on this issue.
The HUDC estate held a vote in February during which 233 of the 286 units - or 82.5 per cent - voted in favour of privatisation. The estate became eligible for privatisation last year.
HUDC flats, which are typically larger units, were built by the Government from the 1970s for middle-income earners and have 99-year leases.
For an HUDC estate to be privatised, 75 per cent of residents need to support the move. Consent must also be obtained from the Housing Board.
If the vote goes through before Aug 1, 2013, the Government will cap the cost of privatising the homes at $30,000 per unit. Key benefits of privatising are that home owners will be able to manage their estates and build condo-like facilities, as well as eventually be able to sell en bloc.
When the estate is privatised, part of the sinking fund - contributed by owners of these blocks over the years and held by the town council currently - will be returned to the residents.
Vice-chairman of the protem committee for the estate Chong Chee Keong said the residents wrote several letters to the town council to ask what the amount would be. But there has been no reply.
Mr Eric Low said he hoped the matter would be resolved soon. He said the successful privatisation of the estate was the result of much 'hard work' and he was happy residents got what they wanted.
As for Mr Choo, he said he felt he was making progress in Hougang, which has been held by Mr Low Thia Khiang, the Workers' Party chief, since 1991.
'I've covered about 40 per cent of the estate now, and believe in taking time to know the residents, instead of covering more ground with a 'touch and go' approach,' he said.
Jessica Cheam