Cow Boon Wan finally wants to act on Foreign Trash abuse of HDB public housing

[Rogue Trader]

MND set to decide on cap for foreign tenants in HDB blocks

By Eileen Poh

POSTED: 06 Dec 2013 13:27


SINGAPORE: The National Development Ministry is looking at imposing a cap on the percentage of flats in HDB blocks that can be sublet to foreigners.

This is to maintain the Singaporean character of the heartlands.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed this in his blog entry on Friday.

Mr Khaw said in deciding the cap, he is mindful of the need to balance the impact on those who rely on subletting for additional income, especially the elderly.

He added that HDB has completed its analysis on the current subletting situation.

Today, less than 4 percent of HDB flats are sublet to foreigners, excluding Malaysians.

However, the proportion could go up to 9 percent in some areas, or even 18 percent in some blocks.

One analyst Channel NewsAsia spoke to said if the cap is imposed, those who own flats in areas popular with foreigners may have a more difficult time renting out their flats and may try to circumvent the rules.

Colin Tan, director of research and consultancy at Suntec Real Estate Consultants, said: "Once the quota is reached, the owner, even if he wants to lower the rent, may not find tenants who qualify.

"Because rental income is so good, there will be people who try to circumvent the rules. For example, they might get a Singaporean tenant as a master tenant, and he sublets to other foreigners."

Mr Tan added MND should consider implementing the policy in private estates, to prevent foreign enclaves in those areas as well.


- CNA/ac/xq

 

[Rogue Trader]

HDB subletting approvals tripled in last 6 years: analysts
By Khoo Fang Xuan

POSTED: 07 Dec 2013 22:02


SINGAPORE: Analysts said HDB's approvals of subletting of whole flats have tripled in the last six years, resulting in a concentration of foreigners in a block or neighbourhood.

The National Development Ministry is looking at imposing a cap on the percentage of foreigners in HDB flats. This was the result of feedback from residents.

Khoo Swee Yong, CEO of Century 21, said: "Within the last six years, we actually had 30,000 additional flats across the island that were given permission for whole-flat subletting.

"45,000 flats as a total proportion of the HDB stocks in Singapore of over 900,000 is just about five per cent. How that five per cent of HDB flats that are allowed to be sublet could congregate into certain blocks of HDB flats that may have up to, as minister (Khaw Boon Wan) said, 18 per cent foreigners living in those blocks."

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had written about the cap in a blog post on Friday.

Analysts said the restriction will affect companies that hire expats, as HDB flats are a more affordable housing option for foreigners as compared to private housing.

Lee Bee Wah, GPC chair for national development and environment, said: “We need to have this cap perhaps while MND is working out the details. The cap can be based on block level and then neighbourhood level. This is to spread out the foreigners from congregating and forming that enclave."


- CNA/xq

 

[Rogue Trader]

Straight from the Cow's mouth:

http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/preventing-foreigner-enclaves/

Preventing Foreigner Enclaves

In Parliament, MP Foo Mee Har had shared her concerns about foreigner enclaves forming in our HDB estates. She suggested a 10% cap on the number of flats that could be sublet to foreigners in each HDB block.

Today, only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can buy HDB flats. But foreigners can rent rooms or entire flats. Currently, there is no cap on the number of flats sublet to such foreign tenants in HDB blocks.

I agreed with MP Foo Mee Har that we need to maintain the Singaporean character of our heartlands. In principle, MND has agreed to impose such a cap. The question is at what level.

HDB has completed its analysis on the current subletting situation. Today, less than 4% of HDB flats are sublet to foreigners, excluding Malaysians. However, the proportion could go up to 9% in some areas, or even 18% in some blocks.

We will soon decide on an appropriate cap. I am mindful of the need to balance the impact on those who rely on subletting for additional income, especially the elderly.

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