HDB is owner of all public flats, why leaseholders pay land cost and propery tax?

[Zombie]

Not true, in most forms of leasehold, you own the actual building or physical structure, also known as improvements. But you lease the land. On the expiration of the lease, either the land reverts back to the landowner in its original shape (which means u are responsible for tearing down the building) orthe land and improvements revert to the landowner. Therefore, because u own the structure, u are on title. The land is on a separate title.

it does not really matter.. the "right of ownership" of the improvements is still subjected to the many terms and conditions of the leasehold agreement especially for an apartment building.. in reality, the title deed gives you the right of occupancy

 

[Papsmearer]

it does not really matter.. the "right of ownership" of the improvements is still subjected to the many terms and conditions of the leasehold agreement especially for an apartment building.. in reality, the title deed gives you the right of occupancy

It does matter, all leasehold property have some variation, albeit in some cases minor, whereby the expiration of the lease results in some form of action. I know for a fact that some landlords will negotiate a price with the flat owners to actually buy the building from them at the end of the lease, for the simple reason that if the building was torn down, the replacement cost to build a new one is beyond their ability. So, these owners actually do have a compenstion value coming to them. Other leases stipulate that upon expiration, the land owner enter into good faith negotiation to sell the underlying land to the flat owners at the market value. So, there is some property rights for sure, dependent on the type of leasehold arrangement.